| Gospel singer Winans |
CECE |
| Gulp down |
INGEST |
| Hamilton notes |
TENS |
| Hindu sage |
GURU |
| Home of the NCAA's Buckeyes |
OSU |
| Hurried, and what this puzzle's word ladder literally did in eight steps? |
PICKEDUPTHEPACE |
| Intimate |
PAL |
| Iona University athletes |
GAELS |
| K-12 fundraising gps |
PTAS |
| Keanu of "The Matrix" |
REEVES |
| Mata __ |
HARI |
| Metaphor for a fresh start |
CLEANSLATE |
| New Jersey city south of Paramus |
LODI |
| North __ Sea: Kazakh lake |
ARAL |
| On |
ATOP |
| One learning the ropes |
TRAINEE |
| Oodles |
TONS |
| Parlor art, informally |
TAT |
| Petty of "Orange Is the New Black" |
LORI |
| Pitches |
ADS |
| Pre-euro Irish coin |
PUNT |
| Purring snuggler |
LAPCAT |
| Questionable |
SUSPECT |
| Rebel, in a way |
ACTOUT |
| Roger Rabbit and Bugs Bunny |
TOONS |
| Safe havens |
ASYLA |
| Sheen |
LUSTER |
| Smartphone software |
APPS |
| Smile that may be silly |
GRIN |
| Start of a Mozart opera title |
COSI |
| Stubbornly clinging to preconceived notions |
OPINIONATED |
| Surprised cries |
EEKS |
| Take risks |
DARE |
| Total |
SUM |
| Useful Scrabble tile |
ESS |
| Verdi opera set in Cyprus |
OTELLO |
| Wealthy New York family on HBO's "The Gilded Age" |
ASTOR |
| Wearable souvenir |
TEE |
| Within walking distance, say |
NOTFAR |
