Wednesday, October 31, 2018 — DT 28761

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28761
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, June 9, 2018
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28761 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28761 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) crypticsue (Review)
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
As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.

Introduction

This is a surprisingly challenging puzzle — made even more surprising by the fact that it was a Saturday "prize" puzzle in the UK.

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   Suffering // as Samson was, fatally (10)

Samson^[5] was an Israelite leader (probably 11th century BC) famous for his strength (Judges 13–16). He fell in love with Delilah and confided to her that his strength lay in his long hair. She betrayed him to the Philistines, who cut off his hair and blinded him, but his hair grew again and he pulled down the pillars of a house, destroying himself and a large gathering of Philistines.

Note that the "fatal consequences" alluded to in the clue and mentioned by crypticsue in her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog did not come to fruition while Samson was dis-tressed but only after he had re-tressed (if the setter can make up words, why can't I?).

6a   A person on foot // took off (4)

Ped^[1] is short for pedestrian.

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Take off^[10] (phrasal verb) means to mimic or imitate, especially in an amusing or satirical manner.

Ape^[5] (verb) is used in the sense of to imitate (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way ⇒ new architecture can respect the old without aping its style.

9a   Try on manoeuvres adopted by superior // gold-digger (5-5)

A forty-niner^[5] was a seeker for gold in the California gold rush of 1849.

10a   Shared resources // Hank's taken back (4)

A hank^[5] is a coil or skein of wool, hair, or other material ⇒ a thick hank of her blonde hair.

12a   Perhaps hen /is/ female bird (4)

13a   A military alliance film // person dealing with bodies (9)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization^[5] (NATO) is an association of European and North American states, formed in 1949 for the defence of Europe and the North Atlantic against the perceived threat of Soviet aggression. It includes most major Western powers, although France withdrew from the military side of the alliance in 1966.

15a   Dicky // heading off from Bedfordshire town (8)

Dunstable^[7] is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles (50 kilometres) north of London.

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Dicky^[5] (or dickey) is an informal British term meaning in bad condition; shaky, unsteady, or unreliable ⇒ I feel a bit dicky today.

16a   Spies taking rebellious soldiers /in/ films (6)

"spies" = CIA (show explanation )

The Central Intelligence Agency^[5] (abbreviation CIA) is a federal agency in the US responsible for coordinating government intelligence activities. Established in 1947 and originally intended to operate only overseas, it has since also operated in the US.

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18a   Type that is // breaking out? (6)

Here "breaking out" is a phrasal noun, not a verb. While sortie^[10] could be used as a verb, it would mean 'break out' not 'breaking out'. As a verb, breaking out would equate to sortieing.

20a   One often works on Sunday, // roasting nuts (8)

23a   Eroticism may provide // such exercise (9)

One needs to include the word "such" in the definition to indicate that the solution is an adjective. Were the solution to be a noun, it would be isometrics^[5] (plural noun).

Isometric^[5] (adjective) means relating to or denoting muscular action in which tension is developed without contraction of the muscle.

24a   What rough sea does to ship (4)

Although I have marked this clue as a precise definition with embedded wordplay, I did seriously consider marking it as crypticsue has done in her review:

• What rough sea does to ship (4)

While a person may toss and turn in their bed, does the sea itself toss? Or does the sea toss an object like a ship? While I have opted to go one route, I am really not completely convinced one way or the other.

26a   Follower of post-punk style // obtained heroin initially (4)

Goth^[5] is a style of rock music derived from punk, typically with apocalyptic or mystical lyrics.

27a   Mark a point with sharp // beaks (10)

"mark" = M (show explanation )

M^[10] is the symbol for mark(s).

Until the introduction of the euro in 2002, the mark^[5] (also called Deutschmark^[5] or Deutsche Mark [from German deutsche Mark 'German mark']) was the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig ⇒ Germany spent billions of marks to save the French franc from speculators.

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Sharp^[10] is used in the sense of mentally acute; clever; astute.

Racy^[10] is used in the sense (said of a person's manner, literary style, etc) of having a distinctively lively and spirited quality; fresh.

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Beak^[2] is dated British slang for a headmaster, judge or magistrate.

Magistracy^[5] is the office or authority of a magistrate. The magistracy denotes magistrates collectively ⇒ the problem is to persuade both their supporters and the judiciary and magistracy.

28a   Unusual // alternative forms of sun god (4)

In Egyptian mythology, Ra^[5] (alternative spelling Re) is the sun god, the supreme Egyptian deity, worshipped as the creator of all life and typically portrayed with a falcon’s head bearing the solar disc. From earliest times he was associated with the pharaoh.

29a   Person handling money /could make/ fortune returning wad of notes (10)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer^[5] (Chancellor^[5] for short) is the chief finance minister of the United Kingdom, who prepares the nation’s annual budgets — a counterpart to the Minister of Finance in Canada or the Secretary of the Treasury in the US.

The Tale Behind the Picture
On Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Big Dave illustrates his hint with a photo of Philip Hammond[5], the current Chancellor of the Exchequer in the British cabinet.

Down

1d   Stupid // daughter getting behind (4)

Daft^[5] is an informal British term meaning silly or foolish ⇒ don't ask such daft questions.

Aft^[5] is an originally nautical term denoting at, near, or towards the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft ⇒ (i) Travis made his way aft; (ii) the aft cargo compartment.

2d   Major // port in south-east America (7)

Rio de Janeiro^[5] (commonly known as Rio) is a city in eastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast. The chief port of Brazil, it was the country’s capital from 1763 until 1960, when it was replaced by Brasilia.

3d   I ran sole army mobile // military unit (5,7)

The Royal Marines^[5] (abbreviation RM)^[5] is a British armed service (part of the Royal Navy) founded in 1664, trained for service at sea, or on land under specific circumstances.

4d   Bites uppish friend // in the back (8)

5d   Cleansing procedures // adopted by hygiene master (6)

Scratching the Surface
I wondered what a "hygiene master" might be. However, a quick Google search reveals that one can earn masters degrees in fields such as Food Hygiene, Occupational Hygiene, and Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

7d   Word /in/ email regularly seen in plain language (7)

8d   It gets confused with talented // amateur (10)

11d   Mozart work // aunt is playing with octet around France (4,3,5)

"France" = F (show explanation ) 

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for France is F^[5] (seen on the left hand side of the licence plate in the photo).

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Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti (All Women Do It, or The School for Lovers)^[7] is an Italian-language opera buffa^* by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria.

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^* An opera buffa^[5] is a comic opera (usually in Italian), especially one with characters drawn from everyday life.

14d   Cowboy // comfortable coming up with delay (10)

The Tale Behind the Picture
On Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Big Dave illustrates his hint with a photo of Clint Eastwood in the role of "Blondie" (a.k.a. the Man with No Name) from Sergio Leone's 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly[7].

17d   Conflict /is/ right in novels (8)

19d   Roll filled with old // poultry? (7)

21d   Set up // where horse might be at start of race (7)

Stall^[5] is used in the sense of a cage-like compartment in which a horse is held immediately prior to the start of a race.

22d   Opening // note penned by German composer (6)

In tonic sol-fa notation, re^* is a US or variant British spelling^* of the second note of a major scale.

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^* The only recognized spelling in American Dictionaries is re^[3,6,11] while most British dictionaries show re^[2,4,5,10] as a variant spelling of ray^[2,4,5,10]. The Chambers Dictionary takes a different approach, showing the spelling as "re (also anglicized in spelling as ray)"^[1].

Johann Sebastian Bach^[5] (1685–1750) was a German composer. An exceptional and prolific baroque composer, he produced a massive body of work — not to mention twenty children. (show more )

Bach produced works ranging from violin concertos, suites, and the six Brandenburg Concertos (1720–1) to clavier works and sacred cantatas. Large-scale choral works include The Passion according to St John (1723), The Passion according to St Matthew (1729), and the Mass in B minor (1733–8). He had twenty children: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–88) wrote church music, keyboard sonatas, and a celebrated treatise on clavier playing, and Johann Christian Bach (1735–82) became music master to the British royal family and composed thirteen operas.

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25d   Doctor embracing the old? // One adds colour (4)

Ye^[5] is a pseudo-archaic term for the ⇒ Ye Olde Cock Tavern. The character "y" in this word was originally not the letter "y" in the modern English alphabet but a variant representation of the Old English and Icelandic letter thorn (þ or Þ). (show more )

The word 'ye' in this sense was originally a graphic variant of 'the' rather than an alternative spelling.

Thorn^[5] is an Old English and Icelandic runic letter, þ or Þ, representing the dental fricatives /ð/ and /θ/. It was eventually superseded by the digraph th — and thus þe (the old spelling of 'the') became the modern spelling 'the'. 

In late Middle English þ (thorn) came to be written identically with y, so that þe (the) could be written ye. This spelling (usually ye^*) was kept as a convenient abbreviation in handwriting down to the 19th century, and in printers' types during the 15th and 16th centuries. It was never pronounced as ‘ye’ in the past, but this is the pronunciation used today.

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^* I interpret the phrase "usually ye" to mean that the word was customarily not capitalized because the character "y" is not being used to represent the letter "y" in the modern English alphabet but rather as a graphic variant of thorn. Thus, in bygone days, the name of the drinking establishment above would presumably have been written ye Olde Cock Tavern.

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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