Friday, March 30, 2018 — DT 28604 (Good Friday Bonus Puzzle)

Prologue

It being Good Friday, the National Post did not publish today and did not include a Friday puzzle in Thursday's edition as it sometimes does. Therefore, as a Bonus Puzzle, here is DT 28604 for those who may happen to have some extra time on their hands this holiday Friday.

I'm taking the chance that the National Post will skip this puzzle. If I am wrong, then you will have gotten an early start on Monday's puzzle. If that turns out to be the case, I will post a replacement puzzle from the archives on Monday so you are not left with nothing to occupy your time.

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28604
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Thursday, December 7, 2017
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28604]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Kath
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
It being Good Friday, the National Post did not publish. This puzzle is the one that I expect would have appeared had an edition been produced today.

Introduction

This puzzle should provide you with a relatively gentle mental workout to tide you over the Easter holiday period.

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.

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 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.

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Across

8a   Violent protesters // initially roaring 'Tories out' (7)

10a   Preserving energy, Romans relaxed -- // slaves driving galley, maybe (7)

11a   Voting system not nice, unfortunately, /in/ US university (9)

Proportional representation^[5] (abbreviation PR) is an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them ⇒ PR has been a success in Germany.

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Princeton University^[5,6] is an Ivy League university at Princeton in New Jersey, one of the most prestigious in the US. It was founded in 1746.

12a   Criticise /or/ clap? (5)

I initially found myself in a similar position as Kath who remarks in her review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog I had a bit of a dither about this one – I can’t quite make clap = the answer somehow.

Clap^[5] is being used in the sense of an explosive sound, especially of thunder ⇒ a clap of thunder echoed through the valley.

Though we wouldn't use clap and blast interchangeably^* due — as Jose points out in the thread arising from Comment #20 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — "tradition, convention, and habit", we must accept that they mean virtually the same thing, both words denoting an explosive sound.

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^* One would speak of a "clap or thunder" or a "dynamite blast" but not a "thunder blast" or a "clap of dynamite".

13a   Where men are on board // ship beside revolutionary (5)

On the seas of Crosswordland, you will rarely go wrong in assuming that a ship is a steamship (abbreviation SS^[5]).

"revolutionary" = CHE (show explanation )

Che Guevara^[7] (1928–1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia within popular culture.

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14a   Snack // to put with something sparkling and European (7)

Asti^[7] (formerly known as Asti Spumante) is a sparkling white Italian wine (show more ).

Asti is produced throughout southeastern Piedmont but production is particularly focused around the towns of Asti and Alba. Since 1993 the wine has been classified as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) and as of 2004 was Italy's largest producing appellation.

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Toastie^[5] is an informal British term for a toasted sandwich or snack.

17a   I'm so interfering, travelling /as/ a politician? (7,8)

19a   Country // folk appearing in operatic piece (7)

An aria^[5] is a long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

Armenia is a landlocked country in the Caucasus of southwestern Asia; population 3,000,000 (estimated 2015); official language, Armenian; capital, Yerevan.

Armenia^[5] is a landlocked country in the Caucasus of southwestern Asia (show more ).

The Armenian homeland fell under Turkish rule from the 16th century and with the decline of the Ottomans was divided among Turkey, Iran, and Russia. In 1915 the Turks forcibly deported 1,750,000 Armenians to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia; more than 600,000 were killed or died on forced marches. Russian Armenia was absorbed into the former Soviet Union in 1922 and gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991. Since 1988 there has been conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh (an ethnically Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan) and the predominantly Azerbaijani territory of Naxçivan (an Azerbaijani autonomous republic that is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a narrow strip of Armenia).

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21a   Bottle  -- // optic possibly applied to it? (5)

Bottle^[5] is an informal British term denoting the courage or confidence needed to do something difficult or dangerous ⇒ I lost my bottle completely and ran.

Scratching the Surface
Optic[5] is a British trademark for a device fastened to the neck of an inverted bottle for measuring out spirits.

24a   Old communist // figure turning back on Left (5)

Vladimir Ilich Lenin^[5] (1870–1924; born Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov) was the principal figure in the Russian Revolution and first premier of the Soviet Union 1918–24.

As LetterboxRoy points out at Comment #12 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, "24a is a little over-underlined" in Kath's review.

26a   Dreadful experience /being/ near horse nursing temperature (9)

Nigh^[5] is an archaic or literary term meaning near ⇒ (i) the end is nigh; (ii) a car weighing nigh on two tons.

27a   Boy captures // the work of Shakespeare, for example (7)

English playwright William Shakespeare^[5,6] (1564–1616), in addition to his many plays, also wrote more than 150 sonnets, which were published in 1609, as well as narrative poems.

28a   Loving // a swindle, gang (7)

Do^[5] is an informal British term meaning to swindle ⇒ a thousand pounds for one set of photos — Jacqui had been done.

Down

1d   Subject inspiring reverence primarily, // one circling the globe (6)

As a containment indicator, inspire^[5] is used in the sense of to breathe in (air) or inhale.

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A tropic^[5] is the parallel of latitude 23°26ʹ north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator.

2d   Around pit, person keeping busy, /as/ boss about (8)

3d   Part of orchestra /that's/ supersonic when vibrating (10)

4d   Stumble after a few drinks, // going one way then the other (5,4)

5d   Dreary // poet sent up (4)

Bard^[10] is an archaic or literary term for a poet, especially one who writes lyric or heroic verse or is of national importance.

6d   This person is overlooking agreement /in/ effect (6)

"this person is" = IM (show explanation )

It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or me) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.

Today, the setter has made the scenario slightly more complicated by combining "this person" with the verb "to be"^* producing "this person is" which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").

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^* Although in the surface reading "this person's" is a contraction of "this person has", for cryptic purposes it is interpreted as "this person is".

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7d   King has designed a winter // scarf, say (8)

"king" = K (show explanation )

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

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9d   Genesis character // in paradise then (4)

In the Bible, Seth^[10] is the third son of Adam and Eve, given by God in place of the murdered Abel (Genesis 4:25).

15d   A story on country /producing/ hostility (10)

16d   Where one finds chicks, ear's bitten // seriously (2,7)

17d   Perfect // female, unruly (8)

18d   Freshwater reptile /bringing/ one salmon up in ten (8)

A parr^[5] is a young salmon (or trout) between the stages of fry and smolt, distinguished by dark rounded patches evenly spaced along its sides.

Here and There
A terrapin[5] (called turtle in North America*) is a freshwater turtle, especially one of the smaller kinds of the Old World. * Terrapin[5] is a US term for a small edible turtle with lozenge-shaped markings on its shell, found in coastal marshes of the eastern US.

20d   Two relatives meeting // tomorrow in Madrid? (6)

Nana^[5] (in Britain, also spelled nanna) is an informal term for one's grandmother.

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In Spanish, mañana^[8] means 'tomorrow'.

22d   Go // green, changing policy finally (6)

23d   A grand queen going to a // city in India (4)

While the abbreviation G for "grand" is deemed by British dictionaries to be an Americanism, it seems to be one that is well known to Brits — undoubtedly from American gangster films. It is frequently seen in British crossword puzzles and never seems to garner the abuse that usually greets the appearance of American terms (show more ).

Grand^[5] is an informal term for a thousand dollars or pounds ⇒ he gets thirty-five grand a year. While the term "grand" itself would seem to be commonly used in the UK, the informal abbreviation G^[5] meaning grand appears to be regarded as a North American usage ⇒ I was up nine Gs on the blackjack tables.

G is defined in various British dictionaries as follows:

• Oxford Dictionaries: (North American informal) abbreviation for grand, a thousand dollars)^[5].
• Chambers 21st Century Dictionary: (North American slang) abbreviation for a grand, 1000 dollars^[2].
• Collins English Dictionary: (mainly US slang) a symbol for grand (a thousand dollars or pounds)^[4,10].

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"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.

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Agra^[5] is a city on the Jumna River in Uttar Pradesh state, northern India; population 1,638,200 (est. 2009). The capital of the Mogul empire 1566–1658, it is the site of the Taj Mahal.

25d   Want // to work hard, you announce? (4)

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