This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, November 7, 2026 (54 Across). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Saturday puzzles are the hardest of the week and themeless, so clues are often deliberately misleading.
How to read this clue
The question mark warns of wordplay. Expect a pun or a second meaning rather than a straight definition.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
E _ _
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About the answer
ESS as a word: The name of the Latin-script letter S/s; Something shaped like the letter S. (See esses).
ESS has been an answer 9 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since February 11, 2026.
Other clues with the same answer
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