NYT Midi Crossword · 1-Across · 3 letters

Spent time in a dining hall NYT Midi Crossword clue

Editorially reviewed September 4, 2026

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3 letters

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Meaning cue

Use the three-letter past tense of the verb for consuming food.

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Answer

ATE

Why it fits

ATE identifies the expected dining-hall activity. Spent sets a past-tense frame, so EAT would be the wrong verb form even though it describes the same activity.

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What narrows the clue

The dining setting identifies an activity, and the past tense fixes its form.

Answer meaning

Ate is the simple past tense of eat, meaning consumed food.

Where this clue appeared

1-Across in NYT Midi Crossword puzzle for September 4, 2026.

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