Ladies’ Lament
by Kegler

27 answers become new words before entry, as indicated by the seven-word phrase 19A 30A. 24A and 32D are variant spellings.

Across 1 In one's dotage, Italy backs direct links between systems (2 wds) 6 Terribly evil toad broke the law 10 Arcane, bizarre coteries 12 Spelunker carrying Spot's body 13 Country singer McEntire's gray apartment's entrance 14 Related to liberal Democrat 15 Outfit's price at first upset me 16 Track actor Liotta having trouble, starting to worry 18 Slightly adjust time for financial estimates 19 See instructions 22 One died, too 23 Period I'm ultimately liable to be locked up (2 wds) 24 Put in office with Stalin, unfortunately 26 Niece agitated after babysitter's first admonition to act politely (2 wds) 28 Displaying arms, else vessel destroyed 30 See instructions 32 Reddish clay dish described 33 Unexcited maestro primarily follows large stringed instrument conflict 35 Lyra's brightest star gave out 36 Prepare a room 38 Ring one-time robber 41 Get excited, for the most part, about horseshoe of gold 42 Herb, sitting in, proposes a meeting 43 Quiet! Listen, Dotty... 44 Territories mostly process French wine internally 45 Covered and cared about animal companion

Down 1 Wintergreen beer? Try a shot 2 Idol began cavorting; nothing to worry about (3 wds) 3 Mark hired Red 4 Most favorable, taking road having the most lanes, perhaps 5 Lie about new friend directly 7 Founding father Ben left out strange scene in “A Wise Man's Gift” 8 Large measures of electricity and lights 9 Recalling one time zone 11 “Once and Again” star initially lit out away from shore 12 Soft bed plaything containing last of lotion 17 Poachers essentially involved in attempt to capture waterfowl and groundhog 18 Having an effect, catching thief 19 Certain newsmen crash on broadcast 20 Choice word in gentle reference to an English nobleman 21 Regards with wonder crazy males commandeering RV 22 Mongrel with tail cut short 25 Went back around 5 on Saturday for certain show (2 wds) 27 Eventually solve picture puzzle with Greek god 29 More nervous from wild ride, e.g 31 With the lights off, made certain repairs around outskirts of Knoxville 32 Sane job, playing musical instruments 33 Distort “White Rap” badly 34 Prayer books and weapons discussed 37 Female guard running behind out-of-control tram 39 Starts to notice one really negative conjunction 40 From one's parents, get nice complex

Solution