Tuesday, September 18, 2018 — DT 28728

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28728
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Setter Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28728]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By 2Kiwis
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

A fairly gentle mental workout today from Jay.

Miffypops' advice regarding the solving of anagrams at Comment #4 suggests he may have stolen a page from the Donald Trump playbook.

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 The Story 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   Labour, say, must accept independent // equality of status (6)

The Labour Party^[5] (abbreviation Lab.^[5]) in Britain is a left-of-centre political party formed to represent the interests of ordinary working people that since the Second World War has been in power 1945–51, 1964–70, 1974-9, and 1997–2010. Arising from the trade union movement at the end of the 19th century, it replaced the Liberals as the country’s second party after the First World War.

"independent" = I (show explanation )

I^[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the context of a politician with no party affiliation.

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4a   Conceals // sources of organic black sausages and kippers (8)

Kipper^[5] (verb, usually seen as a past participle used as an adjective kippered) means to cure (a herring or other fish) by splitting it open and salting and drying it in the open air or in smoke.

10a   A source of finance rumoured to be after daily // transport (9)

Daily^[5] (noun) is a dated British term for a woman who is employed to clean someone else’s house each day.

Char^[5] is an informal British term for charwoman^[5] (or charlady^[5]), a dated British name for a woman employed as a cleaner in a house or office.

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Charabanc^[5] is a British term for an early form of bus, used typically for pleasure trips. The name comes from French char-à-bancs 'carriage with benches' (the original horse-drawn charabancs having rows of bench seats).

Wrapping one's tongue around the homophone

As Angellov remarks in Comment #11 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the homophone only works with USA pronunciation not Brit-speak or indeed French (whence it comes). The homophone would also not work for Canadians not using the US pronunciation — who would almost certainly pronounce the word in the French fashion rather than the British manner (share-a-bang ). * I don't suppose the pronunciation alludes to the fact that the vehicle has many back seats.

11a   Search through // corrupt file on origin of radiation (5)

12a   Entertainer // needing skill with one's empty theatre (7)

13a   Affair // sees the girl report (7)

Shebang^[10] is slang for a situation, matter, or affair (especially in the phrase the whole shebang).

14a   Ale with no head -- that is // strange (5)

15a   Following and falling behind, // growing weary (8)

In publishing, the abbreviation f.^[10] (plural ff.) is used to denote following (page).

18a   Fish like this /may be/ treat prepared in bed (8)

20a   Posh bloke? The French // count, perhaps (5)

Posh^[5] is a British term denoting typical of or belonging to the upper class ⇒ she had a posh accent.

Bloke^[5] is an informal British^* term for a man ⇒ he’s a nice bloke.

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^* Very British, but certainly also very familiar to anyone on this side of the pond who has ever watched a British film or television programme

Nob^[5] is an informal British term for a person of wealth or high social position ⇒ it was quite a do—all the nobs were there.

"the French" = LE (show explanation )

In French, the masculine singular form of the definite article is le^[8].

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A count^[5] is a foreign [from a British perspective] nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of a British earl.

23a   Collects // service points after ace (7)

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

"ace" = A (show explanation )

A^[5] is an abbreviation for ace (in card games).

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25a   Mineral // Renoir mixed with ochre initially (4,3)

There are two recipes for this anagram cocktail. One could use the 2Kiwis' method by first mixing RENOIR and then adding an O (Ochre initially) like one might plop in an olive. On the other hand, one might stir the entire drink like a martini by mixing RENOIR with O.

Scratching the Surface
Auguste Renoir[5] (1841–1919) was a French painter. An early impressionist, he developed a style characterized by light, fresh colours and indistinct, subtle outlines. Notable works: Les Grandes baigneuses (1884-7).

26a   Empty gesture welcomed by standard // caller (5)

27a   Change // in the morning, and finish with time to welcome workers (9)

28a   Unidentified lad holding key /for/ a person of consequence (8)

29a   Periods with editor // completely removed from memory (6)

Down

1d   Choose a gender set up /for/ such ground-breaking tools (8)

2d   Churchman welcomes a // means of generating power (7)

A rector^[5] is a member of the clergy, although the meaning of the term varies among religious denominations (show more ):

• in the the Church of England, an incumbent of a parish where all tithes formerly passed to the incumbent
• in other Anglican Churches, a member of the clergy who has charge of a parish
• in the Roman Catholic Church, a priest in charge of a church or of a religious institution
  

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3d   Passing // test, ran in drunk! (9)

5d   Support rider as vet treated // unwelcome passenger (4-4,6)

6d   Swear, // seeing study module drop core of sport (5)

7d   Stay away /from/ whistle-blower and rule soundly (7)

I can't refrain from commenting that the 2Kiwis, in their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, appear to have included one word too many in the definition ...

8d   Make offensive remarks to // son on shelf (6)

... but follow up with one word too few in the definition here.

If sledge could be an intransitive verb, then the 2Kiwis marking could be considered to be correct. However, I can find no evidence that the word is used in any manner other than as a transitive verb.

Sledge^[5,10] (transitive verb) is an informal cricket term meaning to make taunting or teasing remarks to (an opposing player, especially a batsman) in order to disturb their concentration ⇒ Zol smashed Zaheer for a couple of fours^* immediately after being sledged by the veteran seamer^**.

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^* In cricket, a four^[5] is a hit that reaches the boundary after first striking the ground, scoring four runs while a six^[5] is a hit that reaches the boundary without first striking the ground, scoring six runs ⇒ he hit a six and seven fours.
^** In cricket, seamer^[5] is another term for seam bowler^[5], a bowler, generally fast, who makes the ball deviate by bouncing on its seam.

Apparently, sledging is a "refinement" introduced by Australian players — along with tampering with the ball^[7].

9d   Insist // fats in dark meat must be refined (4,1,4,5)

16d   Explosive stuff in magazine (9)

17d   Duplicated // solid fuel found in grass (8)

Peat^[10] is a compact brownish deposit of partially decomposed vegetable matter saturated with water. It is found in uplands and bogs in temperate and cold regions and used as a fuel (when dried) and as a fertilizer.

19d   Blend /of/ Malaga poured out on top of Madeira (7)

Scratching the Surface
Malaga[5] is a sweet fortified wine from Malaga, a seaport on the Andalusian coast of southern Spain. Madeira[5] (also Madeira wine) is a fortified wine from Madeira, the largest of the Madeiras, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off north-western Africa which constitutes an autonomous region of Portugal.

21d   Agents // cracked, with Russians discontented (7)

Exposing the Device
The setter uses "discontented" to indicate that the inner letters of "RussianS" are to be removed. This cryptic device is based on the whimsical logic that if disembowel means to remove one's innards, then it only stands to reason that discontent must mean to remove one's contents.

22d   University grounds // French writer, keeping quiet (6)

Albert Camus^[5] (1913–1960) was a French novelist, playwright, and essayist, closely aligned with existentialism whose notable works include The Outsider (novel, 1942), The Plague (novel, 1947), and The Rebel (essay, 1951). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957.

"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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The Story Behind the Picture

The 2Kiwis illustrate their review with a photo of The Founder's Building located on the campus of Royal Holloway, University of London[7], a constituent college of the University of London. The campus is located in Egham, Surrey, between Windsor and Heathrow. The Founder's Building, which dominates the campus, is a popular filming location for TV and film as a grandiose 'university' or 'public school'. The institution, now co-ed, was formed through a 1985 merger of Bedford College (established 1849) and Royal Holloway College (established 1879), both of which were originally all-women colleges. Royal Holloway has strong links and exchange programmes with the University of Toronto.

24d   Cancel // credit in advance (5)

Sub^[5] is a British term for an advance or loan against expected income ⇒ ‘I've got no money.’ ‘Want a sub?’.

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