Wednesday, September 19, 2018 — DT 28729

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28729
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Thursday, May 3, 2018
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28729]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By pommers
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

This puzzle gave me a bit of trouble and, even after calling out the electronic reinforcements, I failed to fully parse one clue.

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   Single occupying spot /in/ Jersey (4,4)

Pock^[5] (another term for pockmark) is:

• a pitted scar or mark on the skin left by a pustule or spot ⇒ the only possible reason for the thickness of the make-up was the pockmarks underneath
• a scar, mark, or pitted area disfiguring a surface ⇒ pockmarks and gouges in the brickwork

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Polo neck^[5] is the British term for turtleneck and thus a garment with such a collar bears little — if any — resemblance to a polo shirt^[5].

Scratching the Surface
The capitalization of the word "Jersey" is a bit of misdirection on the part of the setter, intended to mislead us into thinking that the clue refers to the island of Jersey[5], the largest of the Channel Islands. It is considered fair game for setters to misleadingly capitalize words but it is definitely not cricket to omit capitals where they are required.

5a   A quiet learner with old doctor showing composure (6)

"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" = 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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"doctor" = MB (show explanation )

In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine^[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree. 

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9a   Club, say, secure day /to get/ some players (8)

In golf, a wood^[2] is a club with a head traditionally made of wood, now usually of metal, used for driving the ball long distances.

Here and There

North Americans would employ the plural form of the word, woodwinds[12], in the sense used here to denote the the woodwind instruments of an orchestra, or the players of these instruments. However, it seems that Brits use the singular form, woodwind[10,14] (functioning as a plural), to denote woodwind instruments [or their players] collectively ⇒ The woodwind is the section of an orchestra which consists of woodwind instruments such as flutes and clarinets.

10a   Credit after student leaves /in/ depression (6)

Like pommers and Big Dave (see his reply to Comment #11), I did consider removing F (abbrev. for fellow) from AFTER thinking that a postdoctoral fellow might be construed to be a student. However, in Crosswordland — if not Britain in general — a fellow is a professor^* rather than a student.

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^* At Oxford and Cambridge universities, a fellow^[10] is a member of the governing body of a college who is usually a member of the teaching staff.

The other possibility that I had considered — and quickly dismissed — was removing L (abbrev. for learner) from ALTER but obviously could not justify ALTER as equating to "after".

Incredibly, the correct parsing only became apparent much [L]ATER as I was writing the review.

11a   Mostly large-scale work with second poem /in/ part of series (7)

12a   Leave exposed // one in this way behind schedule (7)

So^[2] means in that [or this] state or condition [i.e., ‛like that’ or ‛like this’]  (i) promised to be faithful, and has remained so; (ii) She told him ‛I am single, and I plan to remain so.’.

13a   A supreme team almost transformed? // It shows the scale of things (4,7)

16a   A number clad wrongly /for/ stand with branches (11)

21a   Agree to // parking twice in a British car with hidden rear (7)

"parking" = P

Rover^[7] was a British automotive marque used between 1904 and 2005. It was launched as a bicycle maker called Rover Company in 1878, before manufacturing cars in 1904. From 1967 onward, ownership of the marque changed many times as the result of a series of corporate takeovers, mergers, a nationalisation, and de-mergers. In April 2005, Rover branded cars ceased to be produced when the MG Rover Group became insolvent.

Legally the Rover marque is now the property of Jaguar Land Rover [Land Rover being an offshoot of Rover]. Thus through an extremely complex series of corporate manipulations the "parent" is now owned by the "child".

22a   Measure of land, // note, in a confined space (7)

Here and There
To Brits, re is a variant spelling of ray[5] which, in solmization, can denote either: (in tonic sol-fa) the second note of a major scale the note D in the fixed-doh system To North Americans, re[3,11] is likely the only spelling.

23a   What is found in difficult situation /in/ seat? (6)

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I failed to decipher the wordplay here without help from pommers, given that Canadians are notorious for their use of the exclamation "Eh!". However, we do tend to use it more for emphasis or to elicit agreement than to ask a question.

I was fruitlessly trying to make a case for the difficult situation being "behind the eight ball".

24a   Modest // European among varied credits (8)

25a   Respect // establishment with judge losing head (6)

26a   Kind fellow, expert /in/ print style (8)

"fellow" = F (show explanation )

F^[2] is the abbreviation for Fellow (of a society, etc.). For instance, it is found in professional designations such as FRAIC (Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada).

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Down

1d   Mug // wept about queen (6)

"queen" = 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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Pewter^[5] is a collective term for utensils made of pewter ⇒ the kitchen pewter. So, I thought that the clue might be referring to the extreme case of a collection comprising a single item. However, The Chambers Dictionary defines pewter^[1] as a container made of pewter, especially a beer tankard.

2d   Short call /in/ card game with family (4-2)

Loo^[5] is a gambling card game, popular from the 17th to the 19th centuries, in which a player who fails to win a trick must pay a sum to a pool.

3d   Welsh town/'s/ original wine (7)

"wine" = PORT (show explanation )

Port^[5] (also port wine) is a strong, sweet dark red (occasionally brown or white) fortified wine, originally from Portugal, typically drunk as a dessert wine. The name is a shortened form of Oporto, a major port from which the wine is shipped.

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Newport^[5] is a city^* in South Wales, on the Bristol Channel.

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^* the reference in the clue to Newport being a town occasions umbrage in some quarters on Big Dave's Crossword Blog

4d   Ponder // about working model (11)

6d   Society enthralled by South American politician with a // public image (7)

"Society" = S (show explanation )

S^[10] is the symbol for Society.

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Juan Perón^[5] (1895–1974) was an Argentinian soldier and statesman, president 1946–55 and 1973–4. He participated in the 1943 military coup, and was later elected president, winning popular support with his social reforms. The faltering economy and conflict with the Church led to his removal and exile.

Who is he talking about?

On Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers refers to Juan Perón as the South American politician whose wife is known as Evita. Eva Perón[5] (1919–1952) was an Argentinian politician, second wife of Juan Perón; full name María Eva Duarte de Perón; known as Evita. A former actress, after her marriage in 1945 she became de facto Minister of Health and of Labour until her death from cancer; her social reforms earned her great popularity with the poor.

7d   Prize more highly than // public university in countryside area (8)

Vale^[10] is a literary word for valley.

Outvalue is an archaic term denoting to be of greater value than^[5] or to surpass in value^[10] ⇒ a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.

I don't think this word has been used properly in the clue. Outvalue would mean "be prized more highly than" rather than "prize more highly than".

8d   Canal workers // say turning up among those offering drinks? (8)

Barman^[5] is a British term for a man serving behind the bar of a pub or hotel.

A bargeman^[5] is a person who works on a barge.

12d   Theorist's end is to stop wrong, // transcending the passage of time (11)

14d   Game // namely supported by unruly lot (8)

The notation sc.^[5] (abbreviation for scilicet^[5]) means that is to say or namely (introducing a word to be supplied or an explanation of an ambiguity) ⇒ it [sc. gouache] was also popular in France.

The rabble^[5] denotes ordinary people, especially when regarded as socially inferior or uncouth ⇒ the British feel no compunction about ushering the gentry into the coach and packing the rabble off to debtor's prison.

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Scrabble^[5] (trademark) is a game in which players build up words on a board from small lettered squares or tiles.

15d   Go after sudden cold spell /to get/ instant record? (8)

17d   Proclaim // part of speech in English church (7)

"church" = CE (show explanation )

The Church of England^[10] (abbreviation CE^[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.

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18d   Rescue service in race /to create/ amazing achievement (7)

RAC Limited^[7] (The RAC) is a British automotive services company whose principal services are roadside assistance and general insurance. The company, then known as R.A.C. Motoring Services Ltd., was originally part of the Royal Automobile Club before being divested in 1999.

19d   Security device // beginning to click over morning period (6)

20d   Perhaps lead, we hear, /is showing/ spirit (6)

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