Thursday, February 22, 2018 — DT 28578

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28578
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28578]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Mr Kitty
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 would say that today's offering presents a moderately testing workout of the grey matter.

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   Diplomat/'s/ mother backing singer on road upset (10)

6a   Pole // free? Almost (4)

9a   Advertise // opening of tapas bar (5)

Trail^[5] is used in the sense of to give advance publicity to (a film, broadcast, or proposal) ⇒ the bank's plans have been extensively trailed.

Although the noun "trailer" is used in North America in this sense, I have never heard of the verb being used in this way — and neither, does it seem, have any of the American dictionaries that I consulted.

Scratching the Surface

A tapa[3,11] (often tapas, especially in British dictionaries where the singular is rarely found [explore further ]) is any of various small, savory Spanish dishes, often served as a snack or appetizer (typically with wine or beer) or with other tapas as a meal. Among my regular online reference sources, the singular version (tapa[3,11]) is found in the two American dictionaries, but not in the three British dictionaries (which list the word only in the plural, tapas[2,4,5,10]). However, the singular version tapa[1] is found in my hard-copy edition of The Chambers Dictionary. close Oxford Dictionaries explains the etymology as Spanish tapa, literally 'cover, lid' (because the dishes were given free with the drink, served on a dish balanced on, therefore ‘covering’, the glass).[5]

10a   Handicap: // a golfing term (9)

A albatross^[5] is a source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance (in allusion to Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner^*) ⇒ an albatross of a marriage.

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^* In the poem, the mariner kills an albatross bringing a series of misfortunes upon his ship and leading his angry fellow sailors to force him to wear the dead albatross about his neck.

In golf, albatross^[5] is another term for double eagle^[5], a score of three strokes under par at a hole.

Scratching the Surface
Handicap[5] denotes the number of strokes by which a golfer normally exceeds par for a course (used as a method of enabling players of unequal ability to compete with each other) ⇒ he plays off a handicap of 10.

12a   Factor /in/ a small amount (7)

13a   Splendid // inside picture gallery (5)

15a   Horse, // calm before short session (7)

Eventer^[5] is a British term for a horse or rider that takes part in eventing^[5], an equestrian sport in which competitors must take part in each of several contests, usually cross-country, dressage, and showjumping ⇒ he will begin his eventing career in March.

17a   Young animal // always allowed outside (7)

A leveret^[5] is a young hare in its first year.

19a   Popular firm close to another // one providing protection (7)

21a   Subject to work // experience (7)

22a   Eastern lake/'s/ not natural (5)

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr Kitty refers to Lake Erie as a US Great Lake ... but surely nearly half of it is in Canada.

24a   Time to face reprimand, // about to cry (7)

27a   Legendary beauty // broken man adored (9)

In Greek mythology, Andromeda^[5] is an Ethiopian princess whose mother Cassiopeia boasted that she herself (or, in some stories, her daughter) was more beautiful than the Nereids. In revenge Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the country; to placate him Andromeda was fastened to a rock and exposed to the monster, from which she was rescued by Perseus.

28a   Ring // any number in locality (5)

"any number" = N (show explanation )

The letter n^[10] is used (especially in mathematics) as a symbol to represent an indefinite number (of) ⇒ there are n objects in a box.

hide explanation

29a   The last word /from/ leader of Assamese soldiers,... (4)

Scratching the Surface
Assam[5] is a state in northeastern India; capital, Dispur. Most of the state lies in the valley of the Brahmaputra River; it is noted for the production of tea.

30a   ... enlisted troops /from/ separate castes (5,5)

In the British armed forces, the term other ranks^[5] (abbreviation OR^[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.

Down

1d   Singer /in/ rehearsal, tone-deaf (4)

2d   Be grateful for securing weak // upright (9)

3d   Work out // alone around five (5)

4d   A subtly different mature // ham (7)

Ham^[5] is an informal term for an amateur radio operator.

5d   Examination involving segment // of a ring road? (7)

As an adjective^*, orbital^[5] is a British term meaning (with respect to a road) passing round the outside of a town.

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^* As a noun, orbital^[5] is short orbital road^[5], a British term for a road passing round the outside of a town.

7d   Point /in/ river offensive smell has enveloped (5)

Pong^[5] is an informal British term meaning:

• (noun) a strong, unpleasant smell ⇒ corked wine has a powerful pong 
• (verb) to smell strongly and unpleasantly ⇒ the place just pongs of dirty clothes

8d   Formal proposal // about compound (10)

11d   Half of them playing Verdi // did well (7)

Scratching the Surface
Giuseppe Verdi[5] (1813–1901) was an Italian composer. His many operas, such as La Traviata (1853), Aida (1871), and Otello (1887), emphasize the dramatic element, treating personal stories on a heroic scale and often against backgrounds that reflect his political interests. Verdi is also famous for his Requiem (1874).

14d   Wants // information about English team, first in race (10)

"team" = SIDE (show explanation )

Side^[5] is a British term for a sports team ⇒ there was a mixture of old and young players in^* their side.

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^* Note that, in Britain, a player is said to be "in a side" rather than "on a team" as one would say in North America.

In North America, the term side^[3] is used in a very general fashion that can denote one of two or more opposing individuals, groups, teams, or sets of opinions. While this same general usage is also found in the UK, the term side^[5] is also used there in a much more specific sense to mean a sports team, as we can clearly see from the following usage examples ⇒ (i) Previous England rugby sides, and England teams in many other sports, would have crumbled under the weight of such errors.; (ii) They'll face better sides than this Monaco team, but you can only beat what's put in front of you.

hide explanation

Desideratum^[5] (plural desiderata) is something that is needed or wanted ⇒ integrity was a desideratum.

I am sure most of you will have seen the following (which at one time seemed to be everywhere):

Desiderata Max Ehrmann Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

16d   Danger at sea -- // opted out, or in? (7)

18d   Member of the clergy // and a ruler abroad (5,4)

Rural dean^[10] is a mainly British term for a a clergyman having authority over a group of parishes.

20d   Take flight /in/ retirement (7)

In a double definition, the two definitions are not supposed to have the same meaning. Here they might seem to if one regards retirement as being an act of retiring as the solution (RETREAT) would be used in the same sense, first as a verb and then as a noun.

Retire^[5] (said of a military force) means to retreat from an enemy or an attacking position ⇒ lack of numbers compelled the British force to retire.

However, I managed to find the following meaning of retirement which may be sufficiently different to justify the double definition.

Retirement^[5] is an archaic term for a secluded or private place ⇒ Exmouth, where he has a sweet country retirement.

21d   Oblivious, // a female in Paris about a state of conflict (7)

"a female in Paris" = UNE (show explanation )

In French, the feminine singular form of the indefinite article is une^[8].

hide explanation

23d   Escarpment, // cold place once Fahrenheit's dropped (5)

25d   Learner in market /showing/ natural ability (5)

"learner" = L (show explanation )

The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate^[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

hide explanation

26d   The old lady's small // service (4)

Mass^[5] is the celebration of the Christian Eucharist, especially in the Roman Catholic 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