Across

1. “Yee __!”
2. **Never**
3. German Shepherd, e.g.
4. Civil War prez
5. Sand-like
6. Serpent or hero suffix
7. In beta
8. Pub options
9. “__ of the D’Ubervilles” by Thomas Hardy
10. Dissenter’s vote
11. Remote button, Abbr.
12. Each
13. Chef José __
14. **In the dark**
15. Western military alliance, Abbr.
16. TikToker Addison __
17. Crew machine
18. “To add…”
19. It comes in performing and visual types
20. **When everything ISN’T backwards, or what ISN’T a hint on interpreting the starred clues**
21. “Pow!”
22. Calm
23. Boxer Muhammad __
24. Orangutan or gorilla, e.g.
25. Big heads?
26. Vote into office
27. **Cheap**
28. Mornings, Abbr.
29. Roadside assistance org.
30. Crosses out
31. Green gemstone
32. “Over here!”
33. Alternative to oil
34. “__ girl!”
35. Qty.
36. Scientist __ Mendeleev
37. Come together
38. 180° from NNW
39. **Daybreak**
40. Before, to Shakespeare

Down

1. Bless
2. “Encanto” matriarch
3. Spider dwellings
4. **Obtuse**
5. Wallflower
6. Fights that are never civil?
7. Greek war god
8. Designer inits.
9. “Get it?”
10. **Tidiness**
11. Fifty-two weeks
12. H.S. diploma alternative
13. Mediterranean Tenleytown establishment
14. “Moreover…’
15. Befuddle
16. Away from land
17. Udon and ramen, e.g.
18. Play backdrop
19. One of many for a bodybuilder
20. Hammers in
21. Ctrl – __ – Delete
22. Brutally carve
23. Egg dish
24. __ – mo replay
25. Have the flu
26. TV show Breaking Bad
27. May stress-inducer
28. Day that marks the end of Lent
29. Bowser’s __ (Mario Kart racetrack)
30. Bye, in Bristol
31. Take advantage of
32. **Hate**
33. Scholarship incentive
34. Sign up
35. Hgts. of Everest and K2
36. One of 372 in “The Kite Runner”
37. “That __ easy!”
38. Doesn’t apply to college early, Abbr.
39. Private institution in Pittsburgh, Abbr.