Friday, November 23, 2018 — DT 28778

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28778
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Friday, June 29, 2018
Setter Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28778]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Senf (subbing for 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

This puzzle has pretty much everything one would expect from Giovanni — new words, new meanings for old words and some religious references, There are also a couple of clues with particularly tricky — not to mention difficult to explain — parsings.

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   A person may be entitled to start with this (10)

Birthright^[5] denotes a particular right of possession or privilege a person has from birth, especially as an eldest son.

9a   Wreck // international organisation over allowing 500 in (4)

"international organisation" = UN (show explanation )

The United Nations^[5] (abbreviation UN) is an international organization of countries set up in 1945, in succession to the League of Nations, to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

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"over" = O (show explanation )

On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation O^[5] denotes over(s), an over^[5] being a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.

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10a   Job cancelled with frigidity /in/ public building (4,6)

Ice^[5] denotes complete absence of friendliness or warmth in manner or expression ⇒ the ice in his voice was only to hide the pain.

11a   Most splendid // poem about dwelling in a tree? (6)

"If—"^[7] is a poem by British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), written in 1895 and first published in Rewards and Fairies, 1910. The poem begins:

If you can keep your head when all about you
  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
  But make allowance for their doubting too;
...

12a   Very large lady by front of hotel // who welcomes guests? (7)

"very large" = OS (show explanation )

The sizes of clothing that North Americans would describe as plus-size^[7] (or often big and tall in the case of men's clothing) would be called outsize (abbreviation OS^[5]) in Britain.

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What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Senf describes the lady in the clue as a fictional (Hardy) lady. Tess of the d'Urbervilles[7] (extended title: Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented) is a novel by English writer Thomas Hardy (1840–1928). (show more ) The novel initially appeared in a censored and serialised version, published by the British illustrated newspaper The Graphic in 1891 and in book form in 1892. Though now considered a major nineteenth-century English novel and possibly Hardy's masterpiece, Tess of the d'Urbervilles received mixed reviews when it first appeared, in part because it challenged the sexual morals of late Victorian England. hide

15a   Small illustration, a ship, by old // artist (7)

"ship" = SS (show explanation )

In Crosswordland, a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS^[5] ⇒ the SS Canberra.

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Pablo Picasso^[5] (1881–1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, and graphic artist, resident in France from 1904. (more )

Picasso’s prolific inventiveness and technical versatility made him the dominant figure in avant-garde art in the first half of the 20th century. Following his Blue Period (1901-4) and Rose Period (1905-6), Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) signalled his development of cubism (1908–14). In the 1920s and 1930s he adopted a neoclassical figurative style and produced semi-surrealist paintings using increasingly violent imagery, notably The Three Dancers (1935) and Guernica (1937).

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16a   Girl /in/ state of confusion left (5)

17a   Limited number operating -- // twelve (4)

18a   Report of rude person // in the nude (4)

19a   Pale little man // declined (5)

21a   Not taken out, // not having the time? (7)

The second definition is a bit cryptic (as flagged by the question mark).

22a   Money paid over period /for/ chemical (7)

A reagent^[5] is a substance or mixture for use in chemical analysis or other reactions ⇒ this compound is a very sensitive reagent for copper.

24a   Estate could provide // facility for refreshment (3,3)

27a   Principal's ways of speaking /to convey/ grave things (10)

In Britain, head^[5] is short for headmaster^[5] (a man who is the head teacher in a school), headmistress^[5] (a woman who is the head teacher in a school), or head teacher^[5] (the teacher in charge of a school).

28a   Enjoyable // nook with husband out of the way (4)

29a   Somehow he's angrier // getting ready for a show? (10)

Down

2d   Knowing about // home side at The Oval (2,2)

The Oval^[7], currently known under naming rights as the Kia Oval, is an international cricket ground [field or stadium] in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth, South London. (show more )

The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845. It was the first ground in England to host international Test^* cricket in September 1880. The final Test match of the English season is traditionally played there.

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^* Test^[5] (short for Test match)^[5] denotes an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries ⇒ the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies.

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"side at the Oval" = ON (show explanation )

In cricket, the on^[5] (also known as on side) is another name for the leg^[5] (also called leg side), the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman’s feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball ⇒ he played a lucky stroke to leg.

The other half of the field is known as the off^[5] (also called off side).

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3d   That's bad // university teacher putting off men repeatedly (3-3)

Tutor^[5] is a British term for a university or college teacher responsible for the teaching and supervision of assigned students ⇒ (i) my history tutor; (ii) tutor groups.

"men" = OR (show explanation )

In the British armed forces, the term other ranks^[5] (abbreviation OR^[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.

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4d   Devil-may-care // group of fliers -- brill? (7)

"group of flyers" = RAF (show explanation )

The Royal Air Force^[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).

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The brill^[5] is a European flatfish that resembles a turbot.

Scratching the Surface
In the surface reading, brill[5] is an informal British expression meaning excellent or marvellous ⇒ (i) a brill new series; (ii) She says I can spend half-term [midterm break] with you.’ ‘Hey, brill!’.

5d   Win // one more time with leader absent (4)

6d   Plant // person on field to get stuck into work (7)

The "person on field"^[7] could be a match official in any of several sports, in particular, soccer (association football), rugby, North American football, or lacrosse. Other sports fail to qualify for inclusion, either because they are not played on a field (e.g., ice hockey) or the official holding this title occupies an off-field position (e.g., cricket).

The trefoil^[5] is a small European plant of the pea family, with yellow flowers and three-lobed clover-like leaves.

What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Senf writes the answer is also the symbol for a youth organization. The trefoil is the symbol of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. The World Trefoil emblem[7] was adopted at the World Conference in 1930, a gold trefoil on a blue background. The three leaves represent the three duties and the three parts of the promise, the two five point-stars stand for the promise and the law and the vein in the centre represents the compass needle showing the right way. The base of the trefoil stands for the flame of the love of humanity and the colours blue and gold represent the sun shining over all children in the world. The emblem shown by Senf in his review would appear to be that used by Girl Guides in the United Kingdom. Not only is it blue and white (rather than blue and gold) but has only one star (rather than two) and has lost its moral compass.

7d   Downplay // what citizens of repressive regime are? (10)

8d   Argue against // prisoner time and time again wanting to keep dog? (10)

12d   Language /in/ Indian huts possibly? (10)

Hindustani^[5] can denote either:

• the dialect of Hindi spoken in Delhi, widely used throughout India as a lingua franca
• a group of mutually intelligible languages and dialects spoken in north-western India, principally Hindi and Urdu

13d   What offers an 'edgy' performance accompanied by music? (5,5)

14d   Boy in holy band /getting/ healthy food? (5)

The Salvation Army^[5] (also SA) is a worldwide Christian evangelical organization on quasi-military lines. Established by William Booth, it is noted for its work with the poor and for its brass bands.

15d   Safe // foundation for church (5)

Peter^[5,10] is [seemingly British] slang for a safe, till, cash box or trunk.

Saint Peter^[5] was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and, in Roman Catholic tradition, the first Bishop of Rome or pope. The name Peter^[12] means rock. The Bible records that Jesus said to Peter ⇒ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18).

This puzzle appeared in the UK on the feast day of Saint Peter so there was likely a bit of added significance for Catholics and Anglicans.

19d   What settles the clothes being put on outside (7)

I have to agree with several commenters on Big Dave's Crossword Blog who suggest that this clue is a cryptic definition with embedded wordplay.

To complicate the decoding, the setter has written the elements in the wordplay as an implicit list of instructions. We have to interpret the wordplay as "[start with] THE (from the clue)"; [next] wrap WEAR (clothes) around it (being put on outside).

In the cryptic definition, settle^[2] is used in the sense of to come to an agreement [or determine] ⇒ (i) settle an argument; (ii) settle on a date. That is, the choice of outdoor clothing from among the options available in the closet is largely settled (determined) by the weather. As Stanleysteamer puts it in the thread at Comment #27,  the wife has taught me that what is outside strongly affects what she puts on inside, before going outside!.

Yes, I know one may need to stretch their brain til it hurts to accept this argument. But, after all, it is a cryptic definition.

20d   Dad swimming with ease? He wouldn't be, in this lake! (4,3)

With a reservation or two, I've chosen to mark this as a cryptic definition with embedded wordplay as it would appear to be the only way to account for all the words in the clue.

I am also not sure why it should be difficult to swim in the Dead Sea^[7] where the water has a a density of 1.24 kg/litre making swimming similar to floating. As Kitty says at Comment #8 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog,  Isn’t swimming easier in the 20d? Floating certainly is.

23d   Georgia slouches awkwardly in dances (6)

Lop^[10] means to slouch about or move awkwardly. According to Oxford Dictionaries Online, this is an archaic, North American usage^[5]. However, this is a bit difficult to accept given that Oxford also dates the term from the late 16th century when there would have been virtually no English-speaking inhabitants in North America.

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The galop^[5] is a lively ballroom dance in duple time, popular in the late 18th century.

25d   Club with hot // tub (4)

26d   Scottish location in which to plant a // vegetable (4)

Ben^[5] (used especially in place names) is Scottish for a high mountain or mountain peak ⇒ Ben Nevis^*.

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^* Ben Nevis^[5] [shown in Senf's review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog] is a mountain in western Scotland. Rising to 1,343 m (4,406 ft), it is the highest mountain in the British Isles.

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