NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Across · 12-A

Distinguished conductor [Italian]

From the Monday, June 29, 2026 puzzleAnswer: 7 lettersBy Alina Abidi
Tap each tile to reveal the answer
Stuck? Tap one tile at a time for a gentle nudge, or reveal the full answer.
Letters
7
Direction
Across
Clue #
12
Starts with
M
Ends with
O
Vowels
3

About this clue

The clue “Distinguished conductor [Italian]” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Monday, June 29, 2026, at position 12-A. The answer is a 7-letter word that starts with M and ends with O.

This puzzle was titled “Rosetta Stone” and constructed by Alina Abidi, edited by Ian Livengood.

The Midi Crossword sits between the lightning-fast Mini and the full daily, so its cluing tends toward punny misdirection rather than obscure trivia. With 3 vowels, this answer is unusually vowel-heavy — suggesting a phrase, name, or non-English borrowing.

How to solve this clue

If you're stuck on this Midi clue, here are angles that often help:

  • Crosscheck with the perpendicular entries. Fill the Down entries that cross this one and the letters will usually reveal the answer.
  • Watch for the puzzle title. Midi puzzles usually carry a small theme — long Across entries that share a wordplay link.
  • Mind the part of speech. Singular clue takes a singular answer; past tense takes -ED or an irregular past form.
  • Trust your first instinct. If a clue feels easy in the Midi, it usually is — the puzzle is designed to be solvable in three to five minutes.