Saturday, July 24, 2010 - A Meet Puzzle

Introduction

There appears to be no defined theme to today's puzzle from Cox and Rathvon. One clue did prove to be rather difficult to pin down. Shakespearean scholars may have an easier time with it.

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

19d Fare well in meet, garnering second (7)

The definition is "fare well" with the solution being PROSPER. The wordplay is PROPER (meet) containing (garnering) S (second). This meaning for meet is definitely a new one for me.

From Collins English Dictionary, we find the following definition:

• meet² - adjective Archaic proper, fitting, or correct.

while the following entry appears in the American Heritage Dictionary:

• meet² - adjective Fitting; proper: "It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place"(Shakespeare).

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend:	"CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition
	"*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
	"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted

Across

1a P(ROT)RUDE - PRUDE (Victorian) containing (carrying) ROT (baloney)

5a PARSEC* - anagram (converting) of PCS ARE

9a TALUS - double definition; "bone" and "rock debris"

10a CO(N)ST|RAIN - {COST (price) + rain (drops)} containing (around) N (midmonth; i.e., the middle letter of the word "month")

12a TAVERNA* - anagram (smashed) of TV NEAR A

13a TO(R|ON)TO - {R (revels initially; i.e., the initial letter of the word "revel") + ON (airing)} contained in (in) TOTO

14a PROVEN(AN)CE - AN (article) contained in (found in) PROVENCE (French area)

16a WARD< - reversal (seen from the rear) of DRAW (sketch) 19a POST - double definition; "advertise" and "job"

20a CO(N|SULTAN)T - {N (new) + SULTAN (ruler)} contained in (in) COT (bed)

23a OA(R)FISH - R (piece of raft; i.e., first letter of the word "raft") contained in OAFISH (stupid)

25a R(A|MAD)AN - RAN (published) containing (about) {A + MAD (crazy)}

26a PROCTORED* - anagram (bananas) of RECORD TOP

27a TANG|O - TANG (bite) + O (doughnut)

28a RO(TIN)I - TIN (can) contained in (eaten by) ROI (French king; i.e., French word meaning king)

29a CONSIDER* - anagram (novel) of I SCORNED

Down

1d PIT S|TOP - PITS (stones) + (with) TOP (head)

2d OB(LI)VIOUS - OBVIOUS (easy to see) containing (around) LI (Long Island)

3d RO(SARI)ES - SARI (wrap) contained in (covered with) ROES (caviar's)

4d _DIC|TA_ - hidden in (element from) perioDIC TAble

6d ATTIRE - sounds like (in the ear) A TIRE (ring of rubber)

7d SPA|IN - SPA (mineral spring) + IN

8d CO(NCO)RD - NCO (sergeant, perhaps) contained in (involved in) CORD (string)

11d NOTICES* - anagram (redesigned) of SECTION

15d A|NOT|HER - A (alto) + NOT + HER (that woman)

17d A|BAN(DONE)D - DONE (finished) contained in (in) {A + BAND (group)}

18d CLE(M)AT|IS - {CLEAT (spike) + IS} containing (gaining) M (mass)

19d PRO(S)PER - MEET (proper) containing (garnering) S (second); see Commentary on Today's Puzzle

21d TAN|DOOR - TAN (light brown) + DOOR

22d HILT|ON - HILT (handle) + ON (Ontario)

24d ROO(S)T - ROOT (cheer) containing (around) S (front of stadium; i.e., first letter in the word "stadium")

25d RODE|O - RODE (went on) + (with) O (nothing)

Signing off for today - Falcon