Wednesday, January 10, 2018 — DT 28547

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28547
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, October 2, 2017
Setter Rufus (Roger Squires)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28547]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Miffypops
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

Introduction

I almost always find Rufus' puzzles combined with Miffypops' reviews difficult to explain — and today's puzzle is even more so than usual. Some sections of today's review had to be rewritten two or three times — and, even then, I'm not certain that I am fully satisfied with the explanations.

I find that attempting to classify a Rufus clue can sometimes be like trying to taxonomically classify a Dr. Seuss creation. And Miffypops' reviews with their chatty, colloquial and frequently imprecise style often call for further explanation or elaboration.

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

1a   A candidate who fails to keep it is unlikely to get it (11)

Miffypops refers to this clue as a double definition. I think a more precise characterization may be a cryptic definition that is a play on two meanings of the word "appointment".

9a   Sports spectators // that could be barred (4)

10a   Young people // rambling see Scotland (11)

11a   Achievement // one's supporters broadcast (4)

14a   Volume /that affords/ satisfaction (7)

Although I initially had doubts about content being synonymous with volume, this sense of the word is to be found in several dictionaries (both British and American):

• The Chambers Dictionary defines content^[1] as capacity
• Collins English Dictionary defines content^[4,10] as the capacity or size of a thing
• Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary defines content^[11] as volume, area, or extent; size

However, none of the dictionaries give usage examples for this sense of the word, and for the life of me I cannot conceive of it being used this way.

In his review, Miffypops shows the first definition being a noun meaning "the things that are held or included in something". However, in my view, that is clearly not the sense in which the word is being used in the clue.

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In the second definition, content^[5] is used in the sense of a state of satisfaction ⇒ the greater part of the century was a time of content.

16a   Vessel not the same as a cutter (7)

Oh dear! How does one classify this clue? Miffypops cleverly avoids specifically addressing the issue in his review. I must say that I feel like throwing my hands up — but for a different reason than he suggests.

After much dithering, I have decided to mark it as a cryptic definition but one with an embedded double definition (which I have tried to indicate by using a combined solid and dotted underline).

In his review, Miffypops does a good job of explaining the various meanings of "cutter" that come into play — and even one that doesn't!

A clipper^[5] is a fast sailing ship, especially one of 19th-century design with concave bows and raked masts ⇒ the Cutty Sark^*, a tea clipper built in 1869.

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^* The Cutty Sark^[5] is the only survivor of the British tea clippers [fast sailing ships used in the tea trade], launched in 1869 and now preserved as a museum ship at Greenwich, London.

Historically, a cutter^[5] was a small fore-and-aft rigged sailing boat with one mast, more than one headsail, and a running bowsprit, used as a fast auxiliary.

17a   Monster // controlling the middle (5)

18a   Pained expression // when front of pocket is ripped off (4)

I would say that the wordplay is a cryptic way of expressing "pocket when the front is ripped off" which would parse as [P]OUCH (pocket) with the initial letter deleted (when the front is ripped off)..

19a   A drop of ink? (4)

20a   Change as one // ages (5)

Aeons^[5] is the British spelling of eons.

22a   Still // out of tune? (7)

23a   Abnormal postage /brings out/ the secret police (7)

The Gestapo^[5] was the German secret police under Nazi rule. It ruthlessly suppressed opposition to the Nazis in Germany and occupied Europe, and sent Jews and others to concentration camps. From 1936 it was headed by Heinrich Himmler.

24a   Where things are washed up /or/ settle on the seabed (4)

Here and There

The phrase "wash up" has a different meaning in the UK than in North America, but in this case either one seems to work equally well in solving the clue. Wash up[5] is a British* expression meaning to clean crockery and cutlery after use ⇒ (i) I cook for him, but he must wash up; (ii) wash up the teacups. * North Americans would simply wash the dishes rather than wash up the dishes. Wash up[5] is a North American expression meaning to clean one's hands and face ⇒ supper's almost ready—go wash up.

28a   Carrying on, // Mother gets canteen in uproar (11)

29a   This month in a short way // in a short way (4)

Here, I am afraid I have to disagree with Miffypops' parsing of the clue. I see the definition as being "this month in a short way" or, in other words, an abbreviation for 'this month'. The wordplay parses as IN (the second instance of "in" from the clue) + ST {a short way; abbreviation (short) for street (way)}.

Instant^[5] (abbreviation inst.^[5]) is a dated expression once used in business letters. It is a postpositive adjective meaning of the current month ⇒ (i) your letter of the 6th instant; (ii) we are pleased to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 14 inst.

30a   Description of an eternity ring? (5-6)

An eternity ring^*[5] is a ring given as a symbol of lasting affection, typically set with an unbroken circle of gems ⇒ a gold and diamond eternity ring.

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^* among the dictionaries that I consulted, this term is listed in every British dictionary and in none of the American dictionaries

Down

2d   One may find their pulses worth taking (4)

A pulse^[5] is the edible seed of a leguminous plant, for example a chickpea, lentil, or bean ⇒ use pulses such as peas and lentils to eke out meat dishes.

3d   Single /in/ Lyon, sadly (4)

Scratching the Surface
Lyon[10] is a city in southeastern central France, capital of Rhône department, at the confluence of the Rivers Rhône and Saône. The third largest city in France, it is a major industrial centre and river port.

4d   First part of new rise // just coming into effect (7)

Scratching the Surface
Rise[5] is the British* term for an increase in salary or wages ⇒ non-supervisory staff were given a 5 per cent rise. * The equivalent term in North America is raise[5] ⇒ he wants a raise and some perks.

5d   Like those blessed with a worldly inheritance (4)

This clue is an allusion to the third of the Beatitudes from Christ's Sermon on the Mount Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [Matthew 5:5 (King James Version)]

6d   Every throw-in counts in this game (7)

Apart from the numeration, this clue could just as well apply to basketball.

Netball^[5] is a seven-a-side game in which goals are scored by throwing a ball so that it falls through a netted hoop. By contrast with basketball, a player receiving the ball must stand still until they have passed it to another player.

Delving Deeper

Netball[7] is a ball sport played by two teams of seven players. The development of netball, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. Games are played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end. Each team attempts to score goals by passing a ball down the court and shooting it through its goal ring. Players are assigned specific positions, which define their roles within the team and restrict their movement to certain areas of the court. During general play, a player with the ball can hold onto it for only three seconds before shooting for a goal or passing to another player. The winning team is the one that scores the most goals. Netball games are 60 minutes long. Netball is most popular in Commonwealth nations, specifically in schools, and is predominantly played by women. There are many differences with basketball. For instance, there are no backboards; a shot on goal can only be made from within the shooting circle (no three point shots); only certain players may enter the shooting circle (either as attackers or defenders); only two attackers and two defenders may be in the shooting circle at one time; the ball is moved up and down the court through passing and must be touched by a player in each adjacent third of the court (no end to end passes); players can hold the ball for only three seconds at any time and it must be released before the foot they were standing on when they caught it touches the ground again (no dribbling).

Scratching the Surface

The surface reading is designed to misdirect solvers to thoughts of another game. In rugby and soccer, a throw-in[5] is an act of throwing the ball from the sideline to restart play after the ball has gone into touch. However, when one examines the rules of other games, it is found that the above definition from Oxford Dictionaries is unduly restrictive. In basketball, a throw-in occurs when the ball goes out-of-bounds. In netball, a throw in occurs when the ball goes out of court.

7d   Grub // to provide food and support (11)

8d   Others will get lecture /supporting/ Charles II's return (11)

The Restoration^[5] denotes the re-establishment of Charles II as King of England in 1660. After the death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658, his son Richard (1626–1712) proved incapable of maintaining the Protectorate, and General Monck organized the king's return from exile.

As a link word, supporting^[5] is used in the sense of suggesting.

12d   Pupil's joint // academic achievement (11)

13d   A Cornishman making // untimely error (11)

Scratching the Surface
A Cornishman[10] is a native or inhabitant of Cornwall[5], a county occupying the extreme southwestern peninsula of England.

15d   Nothing dropped by political party -- /hence/ taxes (5)

A Tory^*[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada.

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^* Historically, a Tory^[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.

16d   Many fish // stick together (5)

"many" = C (show explanation ), a device that I recall once making regular appearances but one that I haven't seen for some time

In cryptic crosswords,  "(a) number" is very often a Roman numeral and, in particular, terms such as "(a) large number", "many" or "a great many" are frequently used  to indicate that a large Roman numeral — generally C (100), D (500), or M (1000) — is required.

hide explanation

The ling^[5,10] is any of a number of long-bodied edible marine fishes including various species of large East Atlantic fish related to the cod, in particular Molva molva, which is of commercial importance.

Behind the Picture

Miffypops illustrates his review with a drawing of the common ling (Molva molva). However, the obviously rather ancient drawing is labelled Gadus molva, a no longer accepted classification for this fish. Apparently this fish was once considered to be a species of cod. Gadus is the genus commonly known as cod. Both cod and ling belong to the order Gadiformes. However, cod[7] (genus Gadus) belong to the family Gadidae while ling[7] (genus Molva) belong to the family Lotidae.

20d   Calm // donkey with ague that's run amok (7)

21d   Hide /in/ south-east Mediterranean isle (7)

Crete^[5] is a Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean. It is noted for the remains of the Minoan civilization which flourished there in the 2nd millennium BC. It fell to Rome in 67 BC and was subsequently ruled by Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks. Crete played an important role in the Greek struggle for independence from the Turks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming administratively part of an independent Greece in 1913.

25d   At one time // part of population census (4)

26d   Crew employee /or/ member held in affection (4)

27d   I study // Eastern art (4)

"study"= CON (show explanation )

Con^[5] is an archaic term meaning to study attentively or learn by heart (a piece of writing)  ⇒ the girls conned their pages with a great show of industry.

hide explanation

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An icon^[10] (also ikon) is a representation of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint, especially one painted in oil on a wooden panel, depicted in a traditional Byzantine style and venerated in the Eastern Church.

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