Friday, June 15, 2018 — DT 28659

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28659
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, February 10, 2018
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28659 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28659 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) gnomethang (Review)
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★★	Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's Experience ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - solved but without fully parsing the clue █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - yet to be solved
Notes
As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.

Introduction

I found this puzzle both more difficult and more entertaining than the typical Saturday prize puzzle.

I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

Click here for an explanation of conventions and symbols used in explaining the parsing of clues.

The purpose of this article is to explain the conventions and symbols that I use on this blog in explaining the parsing of clues.

Legend: The following symbols are used in reviews: "*" anagram "~" sounds like "<" indicates that the preceding letters are reversed "( )" encloses contained letters "_" replaces letters that have been deleted "†" indicates that the word is present in the clue

The review of a clue takes the following general structure:

#a/d   Clue containing parsing markup (num^*)

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^* num = numeration

Explanations pertaining to the wordplay (or first definition in a double definition)

(Horizontal separator)

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Explanations pertaining to the definition (or second definition in a double definition) and solution.

Explanatory Box

An explanatory box provides additional information about the clue. In most cases this information will not necessarily help in solving the clue but provides information about the clue. In the case of the weekday syndicated Daily Telegraph puzzles, such information is often intended to help the North American solver appreciate how the clue may be perceived by a British solver. These boxes may also provide information on people, places, films, television programmes, works of art and literature, etc. mentioned in the clue. Although the titles of these boxes will usually be drawn from a standard list, I do occasionally throw in a title specifically suggested by the subject at hand. The standard titles include: Scratching the Surface - an explanation of the surface reading of the clue Delving Deeper - in-depth information pertaining to a subject mentioned in an explanation Behind the Picture - for weekday puzzles, information about an illustration found on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What did he/she/they say? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a remark made in a review or comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What are they talking about? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a discussion on Big Dave's Crossword Blog One box that may provide information that could prove helpful in solving the clue is the following: Here and There - for weekday puzzles, discusses words whose British meaning differs from their North American meaning

Note that there are many types of cryptic crossword clue and it is not my intention to exhaustively go through all of them here. I will only deal with clue types to the extent necessary to explain the conventions and symbols used on the blog. Furthermore, be aware that, in the world of cryptic crosswords, there seems to be an exception to every rule.

With one exception that I can think of, cryptic crossword clues provide two routes to the solution. These are commonly referred to as the definition and wordplay. While these terms serve well for most clues, there are some cases where the more formal terms of primary indication and subsidiary indication may be more appropriate.

Most cryptic crossword clues consist of a definition (primary indication) and wordplay (subsidiary indication). The definition may be a "precise definition" (a definition that is either taken straight from a dictionary or at least phrased in a non-misleading fashion) or it may be a "cryptic definition" (a definition misleadingly phrased so as to misdirect the solver either with respect to the meaning of the definition as a whole or to an incorrect sense of a word used in the definition).

The only type of clue that I can think of where there are not two ways of finding the solution are those in which the entire clue is a cryptic definition.

I identify precise definitions by marking them with a solid underline in the clue and cryptic definitions by marking them with a dotted underline.

In clues in which both definition and wordplay are present, the two parts of the clue combine to provide an overall meaningful statement (the surface reading) which usually bears no relationship to the underlying cryptic reading of the clue. In some cases, an extra word or phrase will be inserted into the clue to create a meaningful link between the definition and wordplay. I define clues which contain such a link word or link phrase as having an explicit link and clues which contain no link word or link phrase as having an implicit link.

I mark the existence of an explicit link by enclosing the link word or link phrase between forward slashes (/link/) and mark the existence of an implicit link with double forward slashes (//) positioned between the definition and wordplay.

Examples

A few examples may help to illustrate these points more clearly.

The first example is a clue used by Jay in DT 28573:

• 4d   Fellow left work // a failure (4)

Here the definition is "a failure" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as F (fellow; abbrev.) + L (left; abbrev.) + OP (work; abbrev. used in music) which gives us the solution F|L|OP. The double forward slashes (//) between the definition and wordplay indicate the existence of an "implicit link" between the two parts of the clue (that is, no extra words are inserted into the clue to form the link).

The second example is a clue used by Giovanni in DT 28575:

• 29a   Female going to match // travels with mother in advance (10)

Here the definition "female going to match" is cryptic (the setter is attempting to misdirect our thoughts to a sports event rather than a marriage ceremony) and thus is marked with a a dotted underline. The wordplay is {RIDES (travels) + (with) MA (mother)} contained in (in) BID (advance) giving us the solution B(RIDES|MA)ID. As in the first example, the double forward slashes indicate the presence of an implicit link.

The third example is a clue used by Rufus is DT 28583:

• 18d   Knight caught by misplaced big blow /is/ staggering (8)

Here the definition is "staggering" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as N ([chess symbol for] knight) contained in (caught in) an anagram (misplaced) of BIG BLOW producing the solution WOBBLI(N)G. Finally, forward slashes mark the link word (/is/).

I also use distinctive underlining to mark &lit.^[7] and semi-&lit. clues. Note that the reviewers on Big Dave's Crossword Blog generally prefer to refer to these clue types by the less pretentious names of all-in-one or semi-all-in-one clues respectively.

In an &lit. clue^[7] (or all-in-one clue) the entire clue provides not only the definition (when read one way), but under a different interpretation also serves as the wordplay.

In future, I will mark such clues with a combined solid and dashed underline. Although this is a departure from past practice, it would seem to make more sense than using a dotted underline as I have in the past). Henceforth, the dotted underline will be reserved for cryptic definitions.

In a semi-&lit. clue (or semi-all-in-one clue), either:

• the entire clue acts as the definition while a portion of the clue provides the wordplay; or
• the entire clue acts as the wordplay while a portion of the clue provides the definition.

For these clues, I will mark the definition with a solid underline and the wordplay with a  dashed underline. This means that a portion of the clue may have a solid underline, a portion of the clue may have a dashed underline and a portion of the clue may have a combined solid and dashed underline.

One final clue type is what I characterize as a cryptic definition comprised of a precise definition combined with cryptic elaboration. For example, in DT 28560 (setter unknown) the following clue appears:

•  26d   Heroic exploit, whichever way you look at it (4)

As the entire clue is a cryptic definition, it is marked with a dotted underline. The 'precise definition' is "heroic exploit" and is indicated by a solid underline.

Given the numeration, the precise definition could give rise to at least two solutions, DEED or FEAT. However, the 'cryptic elaboration' ("whichever way you look at it") indicates that the solution is a palindrome thereby immediately eliminating one of the two obvious choices.

Note that the part of the clue that I have called 'cryptic elaboration' does not provide a second independent route to the solution (as the wordplay would do in most other types of clue). Rather it merely provides a piece of additional information (elaboration) related to the 'precise definition'.

Again, this approach is a departure from past practice, but like the other changes mentioned previously is intended to remove inconsistencies in the way that I have been applying parsing markup to clues. The markup rules that I have been using until now evolved bit-by-bit over a long period of time resulting in some degree of internal inconsistency.

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Across

1a   Superior stock // fear her presence when aroused (10,5)

A preference share^[5] (also called preferred stock) is a share which entitles the holder to a fixed dividend, whose payment takes priority over that of ordinary share dividends. Oxford Dictionaries claims this to be a British term but it is most certainly a term that is used in Canada.

9a   Policeman // on street intercepting urgent message (9)

Chambers 21st Century Dictionary and Oxford Dictionaries define cable^[2,5] (short for cablegram^[2,5]) as a telegraph message (telegram) sent by cable [presumably as opposed to wireless]. However, Collins English Dictonary states that a cable^[10] (also called overseas telegram, international telegram, or cablegram) is a telegram sent abroad by submarine cable, radio, communications satellite, or by telephone line.

10a   Boxer's time /in/ top tier of celebrities (1-4)

Muhammad Ali^[5] is an American boxer; born Cassius Marcellus Clay. He won the world heavyweight title in 1964, 1974, and 1978, becoming the only boxer to be world champion three times.

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The A-list^[5] denotes a real or imaginary list of the most celebrated or sought-after individuals, especially in show business ⇒ [as modifier] an A-list celebrity.

11a   False tale about // strength of character (5)

12a   Novel article in shop, // kind of ceramic (9)

13a   Calls to package the woman/'s/ fruit (8)

14a   Religious education needed by man // who has big shoes to fill? (6)

Note that gnomethang, in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, has gone a bit overboard with his underlining. The word "man" should not be underlined as it is part of the wordplay.

In the UK, religious education^[10] (abbreviation RE^[5]) is a subject taught in schools which educates about the different religions of the world.

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A regent^[5] is a person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor or is absent or incapacitated. In his hints, Big Dave zeroes in on the specific situation of a prince regent^[5], a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch.

In the English language the title Prince Regent^[7] is most commonly associated with George IV, who held the style HRH The Prince Regent during the incapacity, by dint of mental illness, of his father, George III. The title was conferred by the Regency Act on 5 February 1811. The Prince of Wales continued as regent until his father's death in 1820, when he became George IV. This period is known as the British Regency, or just the Regency.

I am at a loss to explain why gnomethang refers to a regent as "The pretender to the throne". Surely, a pretender^[5] is a person who claims or aspires to a title or position — not a person who is appointed as a substitute for the holder of the title or position.

16a   Back round university, // indolent (6)

Supine^[5] is used in the sense of failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence ⇒ the government was supine in the face of racial injustice.

18a   Sentimental // upright type given endless credit (8)

In his review, gnomethang suggests that the wordplay alludes to Roman facial features. I think there may be another explanation. [After writing this, I see that this point is discussed in the comments following gnomethang's review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog.]

As an adjective, roman^[5] describes a plain upright kind of type used in ordinary print, especially as distinguished from italic and Gothic ⇒ each complete type family in bold, italic, bold italic and roman.

As a noun, roman^[5] denotes roman type ⇒ it is signed in roman rather than his usual cursive script.

Tick^[5] (used in the phrase on tick) is an informal British term meaning credit ⇒ the printer agreed to send the brochures out on tick.

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Origin: The term apparently originates as a short form for ticket in the phrase on the ticket, referring to an IOU or promise to pay.

22a   Supporters // get mad gathering in honour of United (9)

I would guess that gnomethang must have been rather distracted when he dashed off his review. Clearly, there is no "TO from the clue". When proposing a toast "in honour of United", one might say "to United". Thus the wordplay parses as ENRAGE (get mad) containing (gathering) {TO (in honour of) + U (United; abbrev.)}.

"United" = U (show explanation )

In the names of sports clubs, U^[5] is the abbreviation for United^[5] — in Britain, a word commonly used in the names of soccer and other sports teams formed by amalgamation ⇒ Man U [Manchester United].

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23a   Rectified insult after scrapping in a // US city (5)

Tulsa^[5] is a port city on the Arkansas River in north-eastern Oklahoma.

24a   In trial I bid // case for acquittal (5)

25a   Easily persuaded man to take up jangling a bell (9)

26a   Enjoy your company, /but/ clear off (3,5,4,3)

Down

1d   Calm // account provided in movie (7)

2d   Dress in ermine, // standing up in novel bonnet (7)

Ermine^[5] is the white fur of the stoat (show explanation ), used for trimming garments, especially the ceremonial robes of judges or peers (members of the nobility in Britain or Ireland) ⇒ the men were dressed in costly ermine and sable-edged cloaks.

The stoat^[5] (also known as the ermine, especially when in its white winter coat) is a small carnivorous mammal (Mustela erminea) of the weasel family which has chestnut fur with white underparts and a black-tipped tail. It is native to both Eurasia and North America and in northern areas the coat turns white in winter. In North America, it is known as the short-tailed weasel.

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To dress (someone) in ermine is a figurative way of saying that they have been made a peer.

3d   Rue inept learner clumsily // advancing business (15)

4d   Captain in Eastern sea // showing relief (8)

In his explanation, gnomethang has failed to account for the first E in the solution. The wordplay parses as BOSS (captain) contained in (in) {E (Eastern; abbrev.) + MED (sea)}.

The Med^[5] is an informal, British name for the Mediterranean Sea.

5d   Greek island retaining leftist // systems of belief (6)

Cos is an alternative spelling of Kos^[5], a Greek island in the southeastern Aegean, one of the Dodecanese group. It is the home of cos lettuce^[5] (known to North Americans as romaine^[5]).

6d   Senate attempt to revolt including leaders of Democrats and Republicans /in/ branch of US government (5,10)

"Democrat" = D (show explanation )

A Democrat^[5] (abbreviation D^[5]) is a member or supporter of the Democratic Party^[5], one of the two main US political parties (the other being the Republican Party), which follows a broadly liberal programme, tending to support social reform and minority rights.

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"Republican" = R (show explanation )

A Republican^[5] (abbreviation R^[5])  is a member or supporter of the Republican Party^[5], one of the two main US political parties^*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.

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^* the other being the Democratic Party

In the UK, republican^[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland but the abbreviation does not seem to apply to that usage.

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The State Department^[5] is the department of the US government dealing with foreign affairs.

7d   Excite // special quality in semiprecious stone (7)

It^[5] denotes exactly what is needed or desired ⇒ (i) they thought they were it; (ii) you've either got it or you haven't.

Agate^[5] is an ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony (quartz), typically banded in appearance.

8d   Beg // companion to be excused from ballet manoeuvre (7)

"companion" = CH (show explanation )

A Companion of Honour (abbreviation CH) is a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour^[7], an order of the Commonwealth realms^[7] founded by King George V in June 1917 as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion.

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In ballet, an entrechat^[5] is a vertical jump during which the dancer repeatedly crosses the feet and beats them together.

15d   Old King's rule /for/ salad item (8)

"Old King Cole"^[7] is a British nursery rhyme first attested in 1708. Though there is much speculation about the identity of King Cole, it is unlikely that he can be identified reliably as any historical figure. The poem describes a merry king who called for his pipe, bowl, and musicians, with the details varying among versions.

16d   Whole lot // chanted about Hebrews (7)

The Epistle to the Hebrews^[5] (commonly known as Hebrews; abbrev. Heb.^[5]) is a book of the New Testament, traditionally included among the letters of St Paul but now generally held to be non-Pauline.

The word "whole" in the definition would seem to be redundant. Shebang^[5] is an informal term for a matter, operation, or set of circumstances and usually appears in the expression the whole shebang meaning "the whole lot". So if the setter thinks that shebang means the "whole lot", pray tell what "the whole shebang" might mean.

17d   Country-lover/'s/ colourful display topped by Irishman (7)

You may have observed that most of the Irishmen whom one meets in Crosswordland seem to be named Pat.

19d   Agree to restrict nasty smell /made by/ piece of furniture (7)

Here and There
In Britain, a tallboy[5] is a tall chest of drawers, typically one mounted on legs and in two sections, one standing on the other. In North America, a tallboy[5] is a large can in which beer or another drink is sold, typically holding 16 or 25 US fluid ounces.

20d   Two refreshing cups taken by high-class // country house (7)

Cha (also chai) is an alternative spelling of char^[5], an informal British name for tea [as a drink].

"upper class | of the upper classes | posh | superior | acceptable" = U (show explanation )

In Britain, U^[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒ U manners.

The term, an abbreviation of  upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).

In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable). 

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A chateau^[5] (also château) is a large French country house or castle, often giving its name to wine made in its neighbourhood.

21d   Swimmer // married in elegant room (6)

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
^[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
^[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
^[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon