Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29189 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29189] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
2Kiwis | |
BD Rating
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| 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
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Introduction
Another quite gentle puzzle today. It seems we are getting a bit of a respite after a string of quite difficult puzzles last week.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.
| Markup Conventions | |
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| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 1a | Poor cadet welcoming unlimited offer /is/ not genuine (8) |
| 5a | Humiliated /by/ answer when caught in bed (6) |
| 9a | Vulgar // predilections absorbing the French (9) |
"the French " = LES [plural French definite article]
| 11a | Call to mind // almost always covering fine (5) |
| 12a | Liberal American needing alias /for/ capital (6) |
"Liberal " = L [member of a nearly extinct British political party]
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
However, a small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party) although it has no representation in the UK Parliament, no Members of the European Parliament (MEP), no members of the Scottish Parliament, nor any members of the National Assembly for Wales. Today, the party holds only a handful of seats at the local government level.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
show less
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
However, a small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party) although it has no representation in the UK Parliament, no Members of the European Parliament (MEP), no members of the Scottish Parliament, nor any members of the National Assembly for Wales. Today, the party holds only a handful of seats at the local government level.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
show less
| 13a | A scented flower // forest, one in Georgia (8) |
The Forest of Arden[10] is a region of northern Warwickshire, England. Part of a former forest, it is the scene of William Shakespeare's play As You Like It.
"Georgia " = GA
Not only is GA[5] the abbreviation for the US state of Georgia in official postal use, but Ga[10] is a common abbreviation for Georgia in other contexts as well.
hide explanation
Not only is GA[5] the abbreviation for the US state of Georgia in official postal use, but Ga[10] is a common abbreviation for Georgia in other contexts as well.
hide explanation
The gardenia[5] is any of several species of tree or shrub of warm climates, with large, fragrant white or yellow flowers.
| 15a | Earth should be scattered by shelter in white // shiny material (6,7) |
| 18a | Fixed a paper handrail with no end of aid /and/ equipment (13) |
| 22a | Honour given to copper twice right for being as cool as this (8) |
I initially marked the clue in the same manner as the 2Kiwis do in their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog but, on closer examination, the phrase "being as cool as this" just doesn't seem to hold up as a definition in its own right. I think one has to consider the entire clue to be a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded (the portion of the clue with the double underline is the wordplay as well as part of the definition). One would interpret the cryptic definition to mean "To what was the cop's coolness compared when he was twice honoured".
"honour " = MBE
MBE[5] stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire.
The Order of the British Empire[5] is an order of knighthood applicable to the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth realms which was instituted in 1917 and is divided into five classes, each with military and civilian divisions. The classes are: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE/DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). The two highest classes entail the awarding of a knighthood.
hide
MBE[5] stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire.
The Order of the British Empire[5] is an order of knighthood applicable to the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth realms which was instituted in 1917 and is divided into five classes, each with military and civilian divisions. The classes are: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE/DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). The two highest classes entail the awarding of a knighthood.
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| 23a | Write quickly /seeing/ son move like a baby (6) |
| 26a | Exhausted, // ringing endlessly (3,2) |
Here and There
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Ring[5] is an informal — more or less British (show more ) — term for:
In North America, the word would seem to be more accepted as a noun ( I'll give you a ring) than as a verb ( I'll ring you). According to various dictionaries, the word ring used in this sense is:
hide |
| 27a | Mounted soldiers covering old // actor's way in (5,4) |
"soldiers " = OR [other ranks]
In the British armed forces, the term other ranks[5] (abbreviation OR[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.
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In the British armed forces, the term other ranks[5] (abbreviation OR[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.
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"old " = O [linguistics]
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
hide
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
OFr[Old French]; (ii)
OE[Old English].
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
hide
| 28a | Designated // fashion centre of Windsor (6) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Windsor[5,10] is a town in Berkshire, southern England, on the River Thames opposite Eton. It is the site of Windsor Castle, residence of English monarchs since its founding by William the Conqueror. |
| 29a | Operator will guzzle starter of these // fish (8) |
Down
| 1d | Animal // worker before eastern European uprising (8) |
"worker " = ANT
The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
hide
The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
hide
| 2d | Tight son // refuses to eat (5) |
The son from 23a takes another turn in the spotlight.
| 3d | Stopping shortly // to register (5,2) |
| 4d | Flush // from corporate venture (4) |
| 6d | Extent /of/ suspicion about Democrat (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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| A Democrat[5] is a member or supporter of the Democratic Party[5], one of the two main US political parties. |
| 7d | Rogue // doctor accepted by newly-trained counsel (9) |
| 8d | Spinner /sees/ heroic exploit cut short in front of bird (6) |
| 10d | Brine /causing/ wet areas to be redeveloped (8) |
| 14d | Dancing shoes /for/ people who trip? (8) |
A double definition, the second mildly whimsical.
| 16d | Best friend will eat one cold, // in current fashion (9) |
| 17d | Caught Weasley maybe, pinching old Scottish // pot (8) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
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In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
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Ron Weasley[7] is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of books. His first appearance is in the first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as the best friend of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
Auld[5] is a Scottish word meaning 'old' ⇒
that's what my auld da used to say.
| 19d | Tale of chivalry /in/ court (7) |
| 20d | Switch leaders of ill-defined // industry such as this (7) |
The definition is a slightly obtuse way of saying "a particular industry".
| 21d | Refuse // fights (6) |
| 24d | Area with intimate // dwelling (5) |
Intimate[5] is used in the sense of imply or hint ⇒
‘Selecting himself for the national team has intimated that,’ he suggested.
| 25d | Transport // military arm, thinking originally (4) |
"military arm " = RAF
The Royal Air Force[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).
hide
The Royal Air Force[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).
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Key to Reference Sources:Signing off for today — Falcon
[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 Advanced 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)
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