Crossword puzzle clue "what each theme answer in this puzzle does"

Like each answer in this puzzle - also each word in each clue - in length

What each theme answer in this puzzle does

Theme answer count, amount of letters in each, word hidden in each, and, when repeated twice, today's date

Exceeds limits (or what each of this puzzle's theme items does?)

Early, or a hint to where each half of each starred answer can be found

Complete freedom ... and a hint to each half of the answer to each starred clue

Color that can precede each half of each [3] answer

Square that can follow each of the three words in each starred answer