A History of Short Words

From the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

TAR

Tue, 13 Feb '24
Road surface
Fri, 15 Dec '23
Damage the reputation of
Mon, 4 Dec '23
La Brea ___ Pits
Tue, 28 Nov '23
Road goo
Thu, 2 Nov '23
Smear
Sun, 22 Oct '23
Road workers' gloop
Thu, 24 Aug '23
Blacken
Sun, 23 Jul '23
Some roofing material
Sun, 9 Jul '23
Blacken
Thu, 15 Jun '23
Besmirch
Sun, 14 May '23
Pitch
Fri, 3 Mar '23
2022 Cate Blanchett drama
Thu, 23 Feb '23
Pitch
Fri, 17 Feb '23
Salt
Tue, 14 Feb '23
La Brea substance
Fri, 10 Feb '23
"___ Beach," acclaimed 1991 children's book set in Harlem
Tue, 31 Jan '23
La Brea substance
Fri, 23 Dec '22
Pine ___ (baseball player's grip enhancer)
Thu, 22 Dec '22
Dinosaur bone preserver
Mon, 5 Dec '22
Oily roofing material
Sun, 6 Nov '22
Byproduct of burning tobacco
Tue, 25 Oct '22
Road gunk … or, when doubled, tooth gunk
Wed, 19 Oct '22
Sailor, in slang
Mon, 26 Sep '22
La Brea ___ Pits (Los Angeles attraction)
Sun, 14 Aug '22
Asphalt component
Sun, 30 Jan '22
Road goo
Thu, 27 Jan '22
Gob
Sun, 2 Jan '22
Stuff in cigarettes, but not e-cigarettes
Sun, 10 Oct '21
Describe in a negative way
Wed, 8 Sep '21
Sticky stuff
Wed, 5 May '21
Besmirch
Tue, 9 Mar '21
Stuff in cigarettes
Tue, 2 Mar '21
Road goo
Mon, 18 Jan '21
Driveway material