Detective, in old shorthand
Latest answer — August 31, 2026
5 Down
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Clue explained
TEC is an old shortened form of “detective,” especially a private detective in informal usage. The clue’s “old shorthand” signals this clipped abbreviation rather than the full word.
- Clue type:
- Abbreviation
NYT Mini Crossword
This clue's Monday, August 31, 2026 appearance
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Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Spider ___ — Answer: WEB. Hint: A spider spins this sticky structure to catch prey. 🕸️
- 4. Quaint term for a boyfriend, from the French — Answer: BEAU. Hint: This old-fashioned French term once described a stylish boyfriend. 🤵
- 5. Crocodile ___ — Answer: TEARS. Hint: These symbolize sadness that is insincere or fake. 😢
- 6. ___ bird — Answer: EARLY. Hint: This bird is proverbially rewarded for rising before the others. 🌅
- 7. ___ wolf — Answer: CRY. Hint: This wolf-related phrase means to raise a false alarm. 🚨
Down
- 1. Feeling tired and worn out — Answer: WEARY. Hint: It describes someone exhausted after a long ordeal. 😩
- 2. British noble title — Answer: EARL. Hint: A rank in the British peerage, just below a marquess and above a viscount 🏰
- 3. ___ bee — Answer: BUSY. Hint: This bee is always buzzing with activity. 🐝
- 4. Panda ___ — Answer: BEAR. Hint: This panda is a cuddly black-and-white mammal. 🐼
- 5. Detective, in old shorthand — Answer: TEC. Hint: Think of a clipped, old-school term for a detective. 🕵️
The answer to “Detective, in old shorthand” in the New York Times Mini crossword is TEC — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 31, 2026 at 5-Down. 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.
“Detective, in old shorthand” answer
TEC (3 letters)
Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's TEC.
What does TEC mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of TEC is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a detective
When else has “Detective, in old shorthand” appeared?
New York Times Mini 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.
August 31, 2026 (most recent) → TEC. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Detective, in old shorthand”?
The answer is TEC, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 31, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Detective, in old shorthand”?
3 letters: TEC.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 31, 2026, at 5-Down.
Can “Detective, in old shorthand” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times Mini 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 today's NYT Mini answers?
Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Mini answers page.
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