Clue: Number of times this puzzle's theme word appears diagonally in the grid (to complete the puzzle, shade those words plus the Down answers that begin where they meet)

Answer: FOUR

Length: 4

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Similar Clues:

• Choice words swapped in this puzzle's theme answers (ANDOR with 5 letters)
• Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers (ROLLCALL with 8 letters)
• Shade from the sun that's inserted in this puzzle's theme answers (TAN with 3 letters)
• Puzzle theme which appears nine more times in the grid (ABE with 3 letters)
• Alternative words used as alternatives for each other in this puzzle's theme answers (ANDOR with 5 letters)
• Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers (BOWL with 4 letters)
• Surplus integral to this puzzle's theme answers (EXCESS with 6 letters)
• Theme word inside this puzzle's theme words (INFO with 4 letters)
• What the self-contradictory words found in this puzzle's theme answers are examples of (ANTAGONYMS with 10 letters)
• New element whose name will be ratified in January, 2010, and whose symbol appears in the middle of this puzzle's theme answers (COPERNICIUM with 11 letters)