Saturday, September 8, 2018 — At The Arboretum

Introduction

In today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon, the setters lead us on a stroll through an arboretum containing a dozen different varieties of trees.

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

Solution to Today's Puzzle

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 █ - yet to be solved

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 The Story 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.

hide explanation

Across

1a   In two seconds, moving as far as // tree (9)

S(ASSAFRA*)S — anagram (moving) of AS FAR AS contained in (in) {S + S} (two seconds; abbrev.)

The sassafras^[5] is a deciduous North American tree with aromatic leaves and bark. The leaves are infused to make tea or ground into filé^*.

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^* Filé^[5] is a North American term for pounded or powdered sassafras leaves used to flavour and thicken soup, especially gumbo.

6a   Tree // guy going around park (5)

MA(P)LE — MALE (guy) containing (going around) P (park; abbrev. found on a gear shift lever)

9a   A record held by feline connected with a tree (7)

CAT(A|LP)A — {A (†) + LP (record)} contained in (held by) {CAT (feline) + (connected with) A (†)}

The catalpa^[5] is a tree with large heart-shaped leaves, clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, and long, slender seed pods, native to North America and eastern Asia and cultivated as an ornamental.

10a   Brought down // Italian leader embraced by communist (7)

RE(DUCE)D — DUCE (Italian leader) contained in (embraced by) RED (communist)

Opportunity Missed

Might not this clue have been more appropriately worded: Brought down Italian leader captured by communist (7) Il Duce[5] (Italian, literally ‘leader’) is the title assumed by Benito Mussolini* in 1922. * Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) was an Italian Fascist statesman, prime minister 1922–43; known as Il Duce (‘the leader’). He founded the Italian Fascist Party in 1921. He annexed Abyssinia in 1936 and entered the Second World War on Germany's side in 1940. Forced to resign after the Allied invasion of Sicily, he was rescued from imprisonment by German paratroopers, but was captured and executed by Italian communist partisans.

11a   Tree // limb’s initial bend (5)

L|ARCH — L (Limb's initial [letter]) + ARCH (bend)

The larch^[5] is a coniferous tree with bunches of deciduous bright green needles, found in cool regions of the northern hemisphere. It is grown for its tough timber and its resin (which yields turpentine).

12a   Jack in front of a vehicle and a // tree (9)

J|A|CAR|AND|A — J (jack; abbrev. found on a playing card) + (in front of) A (†) + CAR (vehicle) + AND (†) + A (†)

The jacaranda^[5] is a tropical American tree that has blue trumpet-shaped flowers, fernlike leaves, and fragrant timber.

13a   Cast uses pens /in/ Hitchcock film feature (8)

SUSPENSE* — anagram (cast) of USES PENS

Sir Alfred Hitchcock^[5] (1899–1980) was an English film director. Acclaimed in Britain for films such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935), he moved to Hollywood in 1939. Among his later works, notable for their suspense and their technical ingenuity, are the thrillers Strangers on a Train (1951), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963).

But why?
As an anagram indicator, cast[5] is used in the sense of to shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mould while molten ⇒ when hammered or cast, bronze could be made into tools.

15a   Spikes // running into stones (6)

PIT(ON)S — ON (running; operating) contained in (into) PITS (stones [found in fruit])

18a   Mangle outside of a small // tree (6)

C(A|S)HEW — CHEW (mangle) containing (outside of) {A (†) + S (small; abbrev. found of a clothing tag}

The cashew^[5] is a bushy tropical American tree related to the mango, bearing cashew nuts singly at the tip of each swollen fruit.

19a   Guided around top floor // having an open structure (8)

L(ATTIC)ED — LED (guided) containing (around) ATTIC (top floor)

22a   Queen Elizabeth, in revenge, chopped up // tree (9)

EV(ER)GREEN* — ER (Queen Elizabeth; abbrev. for Elizabetha Regina, Latin 'Queen Elizabeth') contained in (in) anagram (chopped up) of REVENGE

24a   Ernest Hemingway, with // tree (5)

PAPA|W — PAPA ([nickname for American writer] Ernest Hemingway^[5]) + W (with; abbrev.)

25a   Amid havoc, adorned // tree (7)

_AVOC|ADO_ — hidden in (amid) hAVOC ADOrned

The avocado^[5] is a tropical evergreen tree that bears a pear-shaped fruit with a rough leathery skin and smooth, oily edible flesh. Native to Central America, it is widely cultivated elsewhere.

26a   Plastic cube holding essential tree (7)

BUC(KEY)E* — anagram (plastic) of CUBE containing (holding) KEY (essential)

The buckeye^[5] is an American tree or shrub related to the horse chestnut, with showy red or white flowers.

27a   Form // way over a wall to the audience (5)

STYLE~ — sounds like (to the audience) STILE (way over a wall)

28a   Haziness erodes // doubts (9)

MIST|RUSTS — MIST (haziness) + RUSTS (erodes)

Down

1d   Morbid, Lester // moons at times (7)

SICK|LES — SICK (morbid) + LES ([diminutive for] Lester)

2d   Writers like Swift // placed with Murdoch and Eliot (9)

SAT|IRIS|TS — SAT (placed) + (with) IRIS (Murdoch; Irish-born British novelist and philosopher Iris Murdoch^[6]) + (and) TS (Eliot; American-born British poet, critic, and playwright T. S. Eliot^[5])

Jonathan Swift^[5] (1667–1745) was an Irish satirist, poet, and Anglican cleric; known as Dean Swift. He is best known for Gulliver’s Travels (1726), a satire on human society in the form of a fantastic tale of travels in imaginary lands.

3d   Supreme Being /in/ everything I see (5)

ALL|AH — ALL (everything) + AH (I see; I understand)

Allah^[5] is the name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians).

4d   Interpret fair /and/ square? (8)

READ|JUST — READ (interpret) + JUST (fair)

5d   Trim // tree with cones (6)

SPRUCE — double definition

6d   Non-traditional sort // teary about actress Laura (9)

MO(DERN)IST — MOIST (teary) containing (about) DERN (Laura; American actress Laura Dern^[7])

7d   Tree /in/ Prince Edward Island, Canada (5)

PE|CAN — PE (Prince Edward Island; postal abbreviation) + CAN (Canada; abbrev.)

The pecan^[10] is a hickory tree of the southern US, having deeply furrowed bark and edible nuts.

8d   Makes treasured // last servings of corn (7)

END|EARS — END (last) + EARS (servings of corn)

14d   Swampy tract/’s/ Eastern border penetrated by boy (9)

E|VERG(LAD)E — E (eastern; abbrev.) + VERGE (border) containing (penetrated by) LAD (boy)

An everglade^[6] is a marshy tract of land that is mostly under water and covered with tall grass.

16d   Precious novel about 100 // tenants (9)

O(C)CUPIERS or OC(C)UPIERS — anagram (novel) of PRECIOUS containing (about) C ([Roman numeral for] 100)

17d   Arrest in prison is /for/ pot (8)

CAN|NAB|IS — NAB (arrest) contained in (in) {CAN (prison) + IS (†)}

18d   Sent car off /for/ some Greeks (7)

CRETANS* — anagram (off) of SENT CAR

A Cretan^[5] is a native or inhabitant of the Greek island of Crete.

20d   500 proprietors/’/ bad experiences (7)

D|OWNERS — D ([Roman numeral for] 500) + OWNERS (proprietors)

21d   Improve // note for mass (6)

RE|FOR|M — RE ([musical] note) + FOR (†) + M (mass; abbrev. used by a physicist)

23d   Empty, thin // tree (5)

E|BONY — E (empty; abbrev. found on a fuel gauge) + BONY (thin)

The ebony^[5] is a tree of tropical and warm-temperate regions which produces heavy blackish or very dark brown timber.

24d   Sort of horse // roundup brought back (5)

PACER< — reversal (brought back) of RECAP (roundup)

Epilogue

I hope no one got lost in the woods today.

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