Opening Arguments

by Zag

Solve the cryptic crossword puzzle, as shown.

Across
1) CHOLESTEROL
6) MEGAPHONE
7) AGAPE
9) WHOLESALER
10) YAH
11) STOPGAPS
15) GASHOUSES
16) STEARIN
17) STARTS

Down
1) CHOLERA
2) SOMEWHAT
3) ECHOLESS
4) ODORLESS
5) SECRET
8) NYMPHOLEPSY
12) OUTEARNS
13) TEARFUL
14) RIPEST

Solve the word search as shown below. Note that the theme is also "openings" (or "starts" as referenced in 17 Across).

After crossing out all the words in the word search, there are 108 letters remaining - exactly the right number to make a 9x12 grid, which is the same size as the crossword. Put the remaining word search letters into a grid the same size as the crossword puzzle, as show here:

The words HOLE, GAP, RIP, TEAR and GASH from the crossword puzzle should then be replaced by an "opening" in the paper. Place the solved crossword over the new grid formed from the remaining word search, as shown:

The letters that show through the openings spell out the final solution:

PALINDROME

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