Friday, October 27, 2017 — DT 28492

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28492
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, July 29, 2017
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28492 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28492 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) crypticsue (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

My biggest challenge today was the homophone at 12a. While I managed to work them out from the wordplay, I had to look up the wreath at 14a and the old actress at 15d to verify that they actually exist — or, in the latter case, did at one time.

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.

Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).

Across

8a   A planet circling Earth // approaches (7)

E is definitely a symbol for earth (as a British Electrical Engineering term) and may — or may not — also be used as an abbreviation for our planet (show explanation ).

The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary websites as well as The Chambers Dictionary all show E^[1,2,10] as being a symbol for earth without giving a particular context. However on TheFreeDictionary website, Collins English Dictionary, 12th Edition clearly specifies that E^[4] is the symbol for earth in an Electrical Engineering context.

In Britain, earth^[5] is used to mean:

• (noun) an electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential ⇒ ensure metal fittings are electrically bonded to earth 
• (verb) to connect (an electrical device) with the ground ⇒ the front metal panels must be soundly earthed

The equivalent term in North American is ground^[5] (both as a noun and a verb).

I can't help but note the irony that Oxford Dictionaries displays in defining earth as a British term meaning an "electrical connection to the ground" and ground as a North American term meaning an "electrical connection to the earth".

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Also on TheFreeDictionary website, the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary lists E.^[11] as an abbreviation for Earth. The capitalization of the initial letter suggests to me that this may likely be a reference to the planet. However, with the exception of The Chambers Dictionary listing S^[1] (or S.) as the abbreviation for sun, I could find no other heavenly bodies similarly abbreviated.

hide explanation

10a and 11a   Become apparent // as the Witham, Welland, Nene and Great Ouse do (4,3,2,3,4)

The Wash^[5] is an inlet of the North Sea on the east coast of England between Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

The River Witham^[7] is a river of eastern England which rises in Lincolnshire and flows 132 km (82 miles) via a rather circuitous route to the Wash.

The River Welland^[7] is a river of eastern England which rises in Northamptonshire and flows 105 km (65 miles) generally north and east to the Wash.

The River Nene^[7] is a river of eastern England which rises in Northamptonshire and flows 161 km (100 miles) generally north and east to the Wash.

The River Great Ouse^[7] is a river of eastern England which rises in Northamptonshire and flows 230 km (143 miles) generally north and east to the Wash.

11a   See 10a

12a   Country that was divided // making progress rapidly, we hear (5)

This has to be by far the most challenging homophone clue ever foisted upon the North American ear. It involves two words that the Brits (or, at least, some Brits) pronounce nearly identically. However, most North Americans would pronounce neither word in this manner. The word "career" (), when pronounced in a non-rhotic (show explanation ) accent typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain, sounds like "Korea" () as pronounced by a Brit.

Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.

hide explanation

Not surprisingly, even some of the Brits had trouble with this one. But then, I understand there to be some 50 or so different dialects spoken in the UK and there always seems to be a divergence of opinion among speakers of different dialects when it comes to homophone clues.

13a   Frank // put foot down (5)

Frank^[5] means to stamp an official mark on (a letter or parcel) to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.

14a   Man needs permit /for/ wreath (7)

A chaplet^[5] is a garland or circlet for a person's head.

17a   /What's/ green lawyer been spinning? // Alternative sources of power (9,6)

The word "what's" is playing a role similar to that of a link word. It is included to make the surface reading sound grammatically proper. The setter could have written "Green lawyer been spinning alternative sources of power" which sounds like Southern US dialect "Brer rabbit been eatin' my carrots ag'in" — or Chicago gangster talk (see 25d, I been beaten up by hoods).

19a   Engineers in dismay /making/ gear (7)

"engineers" = RE (show explanation )

The Corps of Royal Engineers^[7], usually just called the Royal Engineers (abbreviation RE), and commonly known as the Sappers^[7], is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.

hide explanation

21a   Bits of music // jumping from las to dohs? (5)

In tonic sol-fa, if one were to jump from las to dohs, they would skip the tes and thus there would be NO TES.

Delving Deeper

In music, te[5] (also ti[2]) is the seventh note of the major scale in tonic sol-fa. Judging by a perusal of entries in American and British dictionaries, the only recognized spelling in the US would seem to be ti[3,4,11] whereas, in the UK, the principal — or only — spelling would appear to be te[2,3,4,11], with ti given as an alternative spelling in some dictionaries. Oxford Dictionaries is more emphatic, giving the spelling as te[5] with ti shown as the North American [by which Oxford customarily means US] spelling.

24a   Hanger-on /given/ shelter by church (5)

26a   Soldier/'s/ drunk dearer gin (9)

In the British Army, a grenadier^[10] is a member of the senior regiment of infantry in the Household Brigade^*.

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^* A household brigade^[5] is a brigade comprising troops having (at least nominal) responsibility for guarding the monarch or head of state.

27a   Ignore rules going round a kind of junction // as fast as possible (4,3)

28a   Where yachtsmen sail, keeping very // well-funded (7)

The Solent^[7]is the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually. 

Down

1d   Caught stars /in/ decay (6)

"caught" = C (show explanation )

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.^[2,10] or c^[5] denotes caught (by).

hide explanation

In astronomy, Aries^[5] is a small constellation (the Ram), said to represent the ram in Greek mythology whose Golden Fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts.

In astrology, Aries^[10] (also called the Ram) is the first sign of the zodiac, symbol ♈, having a cardinal fire classification, ruled by the planet Mars. The sun is in this sign between about March 21 and April 19.

2d   Check // on race (8)

3d   We prosper with engineering drawing in university /in/ dominant country (10)

4d   Varied choice essential /in/ popular sport in Canada etc (3,6)

5d   In a frenzy // 'Good Morning' the wrong way round (4)

6d   Queen's written in pink // pen (6)

"Queen" = R (show explanation )

Queen may be abbreviated as Q, Qu. or R.

Q^[5] is an abbreviation for queen that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.

Qu.^[2] is another common abbreviation for Queen.

In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms^*, Regina^[5] (abbreviation R^[5]) [Latin for queen] denotes the reigning queen, used following a name (e.g. Elizabetha Regina, Queen Elizabeth) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Regina v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).

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^* A Commonwealth realm^[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.

Thus Queen Elizabeth signs her name as 'Elizabeth R' as seen here on Canada's paint-stained constitution.

hide explanation

7d   Changing hat style // not likely to be noticed (8)

9d   Fraud // upset Apple computers (4)

15d   Old actress /gives/ former UN chief the bird (4,6)

Kofi Annan^[5] is a Ghanaian diplomat, secretary general of the United Nations 1997–2006.

Dame Anna Neagle^[7] (1904–1986), born Florence Marjorie Robertson, was a popular English stage and film actress and singer and dancer.

Delving Deeper

Anna Neagle was a successful box-office draw in the British cinema for 20 years and was voted the most popular star in Britain in 1949. She was known for providing glamour and sophistication to war-torn London audiences with her lightweight musicals, comedies and historical dramas. Almost all of her films were produced and directed by Herbert Wilcox, whom she married in 1943. In her historical dramas Neagle was renowned for her portrayals of British historical figures, including Nell Gwynn (Nell Gwynn, 1934), Queen Victoria (Victoria the Great, 1937 and Sixty Glorious Years, 1938) and Edith Cavell (Nurse Edith Cavell, 1939).

16d   Bag to boil for cooking /that is/ required for musicians (9)

In music, obbligato^[5] (US obligato) denotes an instrumental part, typically distinctive in effect, which is integral to a piece of music and should not be omitted in performance ⇒ (i) with piano obbligato; (ii) the obbligato part.

17d   Everyday existence /is/ prevalent, engrossing English entirely (4,4)

18d   Sold // dog in rush (8)

In the wordplay, "dog" is a verb meaning to follow and rush is a plant that grows in marshy areas.

20d   Postwar housing, // before great 1960s style (6)

22d   Goblin /shows/ ill will without resistance (6)

In the wordplay, "without" is used in the sense of outside rather than lacking.

"resistance" = R (show explanation )

In physics, R^[5] is a symbol used to represent electrical resistance in mathematical formulae.

hide explanation

23d   Where military types consume // Horlicks (4)

Make a horlicks^[10] is an informal British expression meaning to make a mistake or mess ⇒ his boss is making a horlicks of his job.

Scratching the Surface
Horlicks[5] is a trademark for a drink made from malted milk powder. The product is named after James and William Horlick, British-born brothers whose company first manufactured the drink in the US.

25d   Bonnet /for/ American gangster (4)

In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, crypticsue shows this clue as a double definition but divides it differently than I have although she mentions my way of splitting it as an alternative.

As I have marked the clue above, the first definition uses bonnet^[5] and hood^[5] in the sense of coverings for the head. However, although they are both head coverings, I would not say that they are the same thing.

From a British perspective, the second definition uses hood^[5] (abbreviation of hoodlum) as an informal North American term for a gangster or similar violent criminal ⇒ I been beaten up by hoods.

On the other hand, were we to opt for crypticsue's marking:

• Bonnet for American // gangster (4)

then, in the first definition, bonnet^[5] (British) and hood^[5] (American) would be used in the sense of the hinged metal canopy covering the engine of a motor vehicle. In the second definition, hood would be used in the North American sense meaning a gangster. Although the clue does not explicitly indicate that a North American term is needed here, the word gangster^[11,12] itself is of American^* origin. Therefore, we might conclude that the clue implicitly calls for an American term.

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^* however, unlike the word "hood", the word "gangster" appears to have been fully accepted into British English

I believe that there may yet be another way to parse this clue, as a semi-all-in-one clue:

• Bonnet for American gangster (4)

in which the entire clue is a cryptic definition that one can interpret as "what an American gangster would call the bonnet of his car" and embedded within it is a straight definition "American gangster" or HOOD.

I think trying to classify crossword clues is akin to categorizing birds. If a newly discovered specimen does not fit neatly into the classification scheme, it is because of a deficiency in the classification scheme and not due to an improperly designed bird.

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)

Signing off for today — Falcon