Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?
Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026
21 Across
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Clue explained
In programming, to initialize something is to give it a starting value. The word also sounds like “initial eyes,” a phonetic hint to the beginnings of AYE CAPTAIN and EYEWITNESS at 10- and 14-Across: AYE and EYE are both pronounced like the letter I. That sound connection turns a computer term into a playful pointer to the two entries.
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
NYT Midi Crossword
This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?” in the New York Times Midi crossword is INITIALIZE — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 21-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?” answer
INITIALIZE (10 letters)
Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is INITIALIZE.
What does INITIALIZE mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of INITIALIZE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- set to the value or put in the condition appropriate to the start of an operation
- format (a computer disk)
When else has “Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?” appeared?
New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
October 12, 2026 (most recent) → INITIALIZE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?”?
The answer is INITIALIZE, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?”?
10 letters: INITIALIZE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 21-Across.
Can “Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Midi answers?
The full grid for October 12, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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