Tuesday, July 10, 2018 — DT 28676

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28676
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Friday, March 2, 2018
Setter Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28676]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Deep Threat
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

If you have been cursing the hot, dry, sunny weather, a read through the comments at Big Dave's Crossword Blog may cause you to repent and rejoice in our current good fortune. The Brits, in early March, were experiencing frigid cold and deep snow (at least by their standards) and even freezing rain (seemingly a phenomenon with which they were scarcely familiar).

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

1a   This writer's in garden, sitting in place, // settling down (13)

"this writer's" = 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 writer" with the verb "to be"^* producing "this writer's" (a contraction of "this writer is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").

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Eden^[5] (also Garden of Eden) is the place where Adam and Eve lived in the biblical account of the Creation, from which they were expelled for disobediently eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge [thereby losing their innocence].

9a   According to story, // Dorothy and Albert are hiding behind a complex near Birmingham (9)

The National Exhibition Centre^[7] (NEC) is an exhibition centre located in Birmingham, England. It has 20 interconnected halls, set in grounds of 611 acres (2.54 km²) making it the largest exhibition centre in the UK.

10a   Animal /and/ bird in the borders of Labrador (5)

The emu^[5] is a large flightless fast-running Australian bird resembling the ostrich, with shaggy gray or brown plumage, bare blue skin on the head and neck, and three-toed feet.

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A lemur^[5] is any of a number of species of arboreal primate with a pointed snout and typically a long tail, found only in Madagascar.

Ring-tailed lemur

11a   Ultimately bored by issue, // resign (5)

Demit^[5] is a formal term meaning to resign from (an office or position) ⇒ arguments within his congregation led to his demitting his post.

12a   King in humble abode // distressed (4)

"king" = R (show explanation )

In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms^*, Rex^[5] (abbreviation R^[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex 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.

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13a   Family member // recovering finally managed (4)

15a   Slated // sort of building, dry inside, with colourful exterior (7)

I needed to call in a wordfinder program to line up all suspects whose description matched the checking letters. From that assortment, I was able to pick out the wanted solution.

An oast^[2] is:

• a kiln for drying hops or, formerly, malt
• (also oast house) a building, usually with a conical roof, containing such kilns.

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Slate^[5] is an informal British term meaning to criticize severely ⇒ his work was slated by the critics.

17a   English bishop with a twitch, // uncertain in action (7)

"bishop" = RR (show explanation )

Right Reverend^[5] (abbreviation RR^[2]) is a title given to a bishop, especially in the Anglican Church ⇒ the Right Reverend David Jenkins, Bishop of Durham.

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18a   Support // member in fight (4,3)

Member^[5] is an archaic term for a part of the body, especially — but not necessarily — a limb.

20a   Return journey is a hit (4,3)

21a   Some bag-handler /employed by/ military leader (4)

In Muslim countries, especially under the Ottoman Empire,  aga^[5,10] (or agha^[10]) could denote:

• a title of respect, often used with the title of a senior position
• a military commander or official

22a   Dad at home, // someone hard to deal with? (4)

23a   Traffic /in/ rush around England's capital (5)

26a   Chemical // in multiple steroids (5)

In chemistry, an ester^[5] is an organic compound made by replacing the hydrogen of an acid by an alkyl or other organic group. Many naturally occurring fats and essential oils are esters of fatty acids.

27a   Cover briefly taken by fellow /who is/ a rebel? (9)

Here and There

When it comes to describing insurance protection, while the same verb form is used in Britain and North America, we use a different form of the noun on this side of the pond. As a verb, cover[5] means to protect against a liability, loss, or accident involving financial consequences ⇒ your contents are now covered against accidental loss or damage in transit. However, in the UK, the word cover[5] is also used as a noun to denote protection by insurance against a liability, loss, or accident ⇒ your policy provides cover against damage by subsidence. This is equivalent to the North American term coverage[5] meaning the amount of protection given by an insurance policy ⇒ your policy provides coverage against damage by subsidence.

What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat describes the fellow in the clue as someone who may also be a toff. Toff[5] is a derogatory, informal British term for a rich or upper-class person. Gent[5] is an informal term for gentleman[5], which Deep Threat in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog clearly interprets in the sense of a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure.

28a   Remark about quiet skill shown by a learner // in different categories (13)

"quiet" = P (show explanation )

Piano^[3,5] (abbreviation p^[5]), is a musical direction meaning either (as an adjective) soft or quiet or (as an adverb) softly or quietly.

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"learner | student" = 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.

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Down

1d   Norm, uncouth fellow meeting Her Majesty /as/ leading figure (8-6)

Bear^[5] is a dated, informal term for a rough, bad-mannered, or uncouth person ⇒ if I make a mistake he goes mad with rage—he's a bear.

"Her Majesty" = ER (show explanation )

The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER^[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.

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Figuratively, a standard-bearer^[5] is a leading figure in a cause or movement ⇒ the announcement made her a standard-bearer for gay rights. Literally, a standard-bearer^[5] is a soldier who is responsible for carrying the distinctive flag of a unit, regiment, or army.

2d   Small drink with energy content // that you may get at night time (5)

Dram^[5] is a Scottish term for a small drink of whiskey or other spirits ⇒ a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.

3d   See 8 Down

4d   Something jagged /may be/ observed outside church (7)

In a highly unusual move for Giovanni, the word "something" appears to exist solely to enhance the surface reading. I certainly cannot find another explanation.

While the definition would appear to be "something jagged", a noun, the solution (NOTCHED) is an adjective meaning the definition has to be merely the word "jagged". This leaves the word "something" making no contribution whatsoever to the cryptic reading of the clue. (After having written this, I see that I am echoing the thoughts of Gazza and others at Comment #5 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog.)

5d   Enjoying freedom from jail // in general (2,5)

In the second definition, at large^[5] is used in the sense of as a whole or in general ⇒ there has been a loss of community values in society at large.

6d   Troubles /with/ ledge beginning to fall down (4)

The word "with" is used as a link word (show more ).

If for you — as it was for me — the rationale for the use of the word "with" as a link word is not obvious, I can suggest a couple of explanations.

First, with^[11] could be used in the sense of characterized by or having ⇒ a person with intelligence and initiative.

Another explanation might be that the word "with" is expressing causality between the definition and wordplay in that the preposition with^[5] may be used to indicate the cause of a condition ⇒ he was trembling with fear. Used in this sense, the word "with" essentially means "resulting from".

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7d   One is on top of something learned about in maths class (9)

Here and There
In Britain, the short form for mathematics is maths[5] ⇒ her mother was a maths teacher, rather than math[5] as is the case in North America ⇒ she teaches math and science.

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The numerator^[5] is the number above the line in a vulgar fraction^* showing how many of the parts indicated by the denominator are taken, for example, 2 in 2/3.

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^* A vulgar fraction (also called common fraction or simple fraction^[10]) is a a fraction in which the numerator and denominator are both integers expressed as a ratio rather than a decimal.

8d and 3d   Dad and intercontinental mates transformed /by/ this spiritual exercise (14,10)

Transcendental Meditation^[5] (also TM; a trademark in the US) is a technique for detaching oneself from anxiety and promoting harmony and self-realization by meditation, repetition of a mantra, and other yogic practices, promulgated by an international organization founded by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (c.1911–2008).

Scratching the Surface
In Britain, mate[5] — in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner — is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒ my best mate Steve.

14d   Expression of annoyance about graduate with desire /to become/ playwright (10)

Dramaturge^[5] (also dramaturg) is another term for dramatist.

16d   Indifferent /when/ name comes up at the end of a course (9)

19d   Russian royal once // treating artisan badly (7)

A tsarina^[5] (also czarina or tzarina) was an empress of Russia before 1917 ⇒ (i) the Germanic origins of the tsarina; (ii) a descendant of Tsarina Alexandria.

20d   Workers out of this world /making/ telephone item (7)

ET^[5] is the abbreviation for extraterrestrial [and apparently not entirely an invention of Steven Spielberg].

24d   Head off // right at the end of avenue (5)

25d   Concert // supporting male (4)

Here and There

The term prom[5] (or Prom) is short for promenade concert[5], a British term for a concert of classical music at which a part of the audience stands in an area without seating, for which tickets are sold at a reduced price. The most famous series of such concerts is the annual BBC Promenade Concerts (known as the Proms), instituted by Sir Henry Wood in 1895. Prom[5], in the sense of a formal dance, is a North American expression.

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