| SANDS | Metaphor for time ... and, when divided into three words, puzzle theme found in the four longest acr |
| MOTOWN | Record label founded in Detroit ... and, when divided into three words, where to find the answers to |
| REBUS | Pictures-for-words puzzle (5) |
| TREASURED | Cherished time and when disheartened, dispelled fears (9) |
| RETOOL | Modernize, in a way ... and when divided into three parts, a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| GRANDMA | Artist Moses ... and, when divided into three parts, a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| CIRCLETHEWAGONS | Assume a defensive position (and one way to highlight the puzzle theme found in the first and last l |
| HOTSTUFF | 1979 song for which Donna Summer won a Grammy, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in the answers t |
| TERMINATOR | With "The," Schwarzenegger film released 10/26/1984, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in the fir |
| GIMMEABREAK | 1980s Nell Carter sitcom, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in the ends of 17-, 32-, 39- and 46-A |
| BEONTHEBALL | Demonstrate effectiveness, and a literal hint to the puzzle theme found in the answers to starred cl |
| TICTACTOE | Pencil game that hints at this puzzle's theme, found in the first and last letters of 18-, 25- and 4 |
| ABANDON | Leave high and dry ... or, when divided into three parts, what the answers to starred clues are encompassed by |
| THEINVISIBLEMAN | H.G. Wells classic, and a hint to this puzzle's theme found in the answers to starred clues |
| PRISM | Solid that, when divided into three parts, describes this puzzle's theme |
| STOCKSPLIT | Sign of corporate success, and a literal hint to the puzzle theme found in 18-, 20-, 33-, 42- and 56 |
| TAMALE | Husk-wrapped Mexican dish, and when divided in three parts, a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| WHEREITSAT | Best place to be, slangily ... and, when divided in four parts, what the answers to starred clues are? |
| BOWL | Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers |
| TREETOPS | This puzzle's theme found in the answers to five asterisked clues |
