Clue: Letter upon which this puzzle's theme is built

Answer: CEE

Length: 3

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Similar Clues:

• Letter switched to ess in this puzzle's theme (CEE with 3 letters)
• Period that ends Nov. 3rd, requiring a shift, and letters that shift in this puzzle's theme entries (DST with 3 letters)
• First of a pair of letters swapped six times in this puzzle's theme entries (ESS with 3 letters)
• Type of gear on which the letters in this puzzle's nine theme squares are arrayed (BASEBALLCAP with 11 letters)
• Second of a pair of letters swapped six times in this puzzle's theme entries (TEE with 3 letters)
• Struck out, as one letter in each of this puzzle's theme answers (XED with 3 letters)
• Contented sighs (and a homophonic hint to this puzzle's theme) (AAHS with 4 letters)
• Quartet that broke out in spring 1972, and the scheme of this puzzle's theme (ABBA with 4 letters)
• Second letters of this puzzle's five theme answers (seen in order) (AEIOU with 5 letters)
• Rap sheet letters hidden in this puzzle's longest answers (AKA with 3 letters)