Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday  Saturday Stumper, by Matthew Sewell, begins: 1-A, three letters, “Octane Booster brand.” Is it really going to be this easy? Not quite. But it is a highly doable and satifying Stumper. I’d call it a genial Stumper. See 33-A, fifteen letters, “Smiley-like Martian landmark.”

Some clue-and-answer pairs of note:

3-A, ten letters, “Cicero’s ‘true mother of the arts.’” Always happy to see any reference to it.

7-D, eight letters, “Of 3-D surface math.” Cool.

8-A, four letters, “Discontinued docker.” When I see discontinued and a short answer in a crossword, I automatically think SST. Not relevant here.

10-D, four letters, “He helps Anna find Elsa.” One of many things I know because of granddaughters.

13-A, five letters, ”Cross hairs.” Tricky.

16-D, letters, “Entry gate, e.g.” An unusual answer.

18-A, fifteen letters, “Corporate disincentives.” Not sure how I know this term, but I do.

20-D, ten letters, “Monthly writing.” My first thought was of a recurring bill, but who still writes checks for those?

22-A, three letters, “Time of Eugene O’Neill.” Not what you (or I) might first think.

26-D, ten letters, “ls turned off, in dating slang.” Is this expression from the same generation that faults people for being judgy? Just asking.

46-A fifteen letters, “Emulates rappers.” Pretty sneaky.

58-A, four letters, “Keeps from drifting off.” One of the things I most like about Stumpers is the way ordinary answers turn more interesting via their clues.

My favorite in this puzzle: 14-D, four letters, “Plot adversary, or plotting adversary.” See 58-A.

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.