Start of a fairy tale
Latest answer — October 04, 2026
94 Down
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Clue explained
Many fairy tales begin with the words “Once upon a time.” ONCE is the opening word of that familiar introductory phrase.
- Clue type:
- Phrase or idiom
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 04, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Start of a fairy tale” in the New York Times crossword is ONCE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 4, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 94-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.
“Start of a fairy tale” answer
ONCE (4 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 ONCE.
What does ONCE mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of ONCE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(adverb)
- on one occasion or for one time only
- at some time in the past; formerly
- multiplied by one
When else has “Start of a fairy tale” appeared?
New York Times 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 4, 2026 (most recent) → ONCE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Start of a fairy tale”?
The answer is ONCE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 4, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Start of a fairy tale”?
4 letters: ONCE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 4, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 94-Down.
Can “Start of a fairy tale” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times 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 Crossword answers?
The full grid for October 4, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times 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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