Saturday, November 17, 2018 — I Declare

Introduction

As some have already commented, today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon was a bit on the tricky side — made slightly more difficult by a faux pas by the setters (see Error in Today's Puzzle). I did quite enjoy the whimsical definition in 4a.

I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.

Error in Today's Puzzle

There clearly appears to be an error in the puzzle. Clue 25a almost certainly should read:

• 25   Stimulate vocally Alexander's dad (5)

Solution to Today's Puzzle

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 █ - yet to be solved

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.

hide explanation

Across

1a   Jumps // fences? (6)

BOUNDS — double definition; the question mark indicating that the second definition is by example

4a   Bro or sis holds gadget for prepping // Eve’s makeup? (5,3)

S(PARE R)IB — SIB (bro or sis) containing (holds) PARER (gadget for prepping [fruit or vegetables])

In the Bible, Eve^[5,10] is the first woman, mother of the human race, fashioned by God from the rib of Adam, companion of Adam and mother of Cain and Abel^* [Genesis 2:18-25].

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^* not to mention Seth and her other sons and daughters [Gen 5:4]

9a   Name adopted by one chief of American // tribe (6)

ONE(ID)A — ID (name) contained in (adopted by) {ONE (†) + A (chief [initial letter] of American)}

The Oneida^[5] are an Iroquoian people formerly inhabiting upper New York State, one of the five peoples comprising the original Iroquois confederacy.

10a   Percussion instruments capturing former // blues (8)

D(OLD)RUMS — DRUMS (percussion instruments) containing (capturing) OLD (former)

11a   Explorer of Canada // stumbling on British farmer (6,9)

{MARTIN FROBISHER}* — anagram (stumbling) of ON BRITISH FARMER

Sir Martin Frobisher^[5] (c.1535–1594) was an English explorer. In 1576 he led an unsuccessful expedition in search of the North-West Passage. Frobisher served in Sir Francis Drake's Caribbean expedition of 1585–6 and played a prominent part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

13a   Greek poet and French one // hit going out of the park (4,3)

HOME R|UN — HOMER (Greek poet) + UN (French [word meaning] one)

14a   Injured in the ring, // get bloody (5)

GO|RED — GO (get) + RED (bloody)

An injury suffered in the bull-fighting ring.

17a   Assistants/’/ ridiculous ideas (5)

AIDES* — anagram (ridiculous) of IDEAS

19a   Took a spill // right inside, given a gratuity (7)

T(R)IPPED — R (right; abbrev.) contained in (inside) TIPPED (given a gratuity; Has the waitress been tipped?)

22a   Dance spurred in ancient country // competition (5-6,4)

TH(REE_L|EGGED) RACE — {REEL (dance) + EGGED (spurred)} contained in (in) THRACE (ancient country)

Thrace^[5] was an ancient country lying west of the Black Sea and north of the Aegean. It is now divided between Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece.

24a   Old Navy gear, including cup, // was missing from part of school (3,5)

CUT (C)LASS — CUTLASS (old navy gear) containing (including) C (cup; abbrev. found in recipes)

A cutlass^[5] is a short sword with a slightly curved blade, formerly used by sailors.

Note the deceptive capitalization of "Navy" to create the impression that the clue is a reference to the American clothing retailer, Old Navy^[7].

25a [Revised]   Stimulate // vocally Alexander’s dad (6)

Note: There is clearly an error in the clue as it appeared in the National Post: Vocally stimulate Alexander’s dad (6)

FILLIP~ — sounds like (vocally) PHILIP (Alexander's father; father of Alexander the Great)

Philip II of Macedon^[7] (382–336 BC) was the king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great.

26a   Wild West lawman with perfect // listening device (8)

EARP|HONE — EARP (Wild West lawman; Wyatt Earp) + (with) HONE (perfect; as a verb)

A well-honed (but ill-deserved?) reputation

Wyatt Earp (1848–1929) was an American Old West lawman and gambler in Cochise County, Arizona Territory, and a deputy marshal in Tombstone. He worked in a wide variety of trades throughout his life and took part in the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which lawmen killed three outlaw Cochise County Cowboys. He is often erroneously regarded as the central figure in the shootout, although his brother Virgil was Tombstone city marshal and deputy U.S. marshal that day and had far more experience as a sheriff, constable, marshal, and soldier in combat. Wyatt Earp's reputation has been confused by inaccurate, conflicting, and false stories told about him by others, and by his own claims[7] that are either false or cannot be corroborated. At various times and in various locales, he held the office of assistant or  deputy marshal. Although he falsely claimed on several occasions (including in official proceedings) to have been a marshal, he only briefly served (10 days) as a full marshal in Wrangell, Alaska in 1897. On the day of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, he was a temporary assistant marshal, appointed by his brother Virgil, the Tombstone city Marshal. Another brother, Morgan, was also senior to him, being a deputy city marshal (nepotism seems to have run rampant in Tombstone). Despite his reputation as a lawman, Wyatt Earp had numerous run-ins with the law himself.

27a   Lively wit // cracked up priest (6)

ESPRIT* — anagram (cracked up) of PRIEST

Down

1d   Flowers // left among mushrooms (6)

B(L)OOMS — L (left; abbrev.) contained in (among) BOOMS (mushrooms; figurative verb)

2d   Found // some of you near the ducks (9)

_U|NEAR|THE|D_ — hidden in (some of) yoU NEAR THE Ducks

3d   Art school // speaker’s spot surrounded by barrier (7)

DA(DAIS)M — DAIS (speaker's spot) contained in (surrounded by) DAM (barrier)

Dadaism^[5] (or Dada) was an early 20th-century movement in art, literature, music, and film, repudiating and mocking artistic and social conventions and emphasizing the illogical and absurd.

Dada was launched in Zurich in 1916 by Tristan Tzara and others, soon merging with a similar group in New York. It favoured montage, collage, and the ready-made. Leading figures: Jean Arp, André Breton, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and Marcel Duchamp.

5d   Swimming in pond, group // setting forth (11)

PROPOUNDING* — anagram (swimming) of IN POND GROUP

6d   Soul singer’/s /crimson blemish (7)

RED|DING — RED (crimson) + DING (blemish)

Otis Redding^[7] (1941–1967) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul and rhythm and blues.

7d   Coarse // fringe of fur in the ear (5)

ROUGH~ — sounds like (in the ear) RUFF (fringe of fur)

8d   Sit like an equestrian on // top conveyance (8)

BEST|RIDE — BEST (top) + RIDE (conveyance)

12d   I // spoiled finer sports (5,6)

{FIRST PERSON}* — anagram (spoiled) of FINER SPORTS

15d   Eccentric or arty old // actor (3,6)

{ROD TAYLOR}* — anagram (eccentric) of OR ARTY OLD

Rod Taylor^[7] (1930–2015) was an Australian actor. He appeared in over 50 films, including The Time Machine (1960), The Birds (1963), and One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).

16d   Tiny bit // peeved at first with piece in a journal (8)

P|ARTICLE — P (peeved at first; initial letter of Peeved) + (with) ARTICLE (piece in journal)

18d   Burglar’s approach // shifted the salt (7)

STEALTH* — anagram (shifted) of THE SALT

20d   In pastries, calculate the total of // rice sources (7)

P(ADD)IES — ADD (calculate the total of) contained in (in) PIES (pastries)

21d   Tyrant // posted erratically (6)

DESPOT* — anagram (erratically) of POSTED

23d   Turner // makes an appearance in Metro Toronto (5)

_RO|TOR_ — hidden in (makes an appearance in) MetRO TORonto

Scratching the Surface
Although there well may be other possibilities, I would like to take the surface reading to be a reference to singer Tina Turner[7].

Epilogue

As I could find no obvious theme in today's puzzle, I have drawn inspiration from the two long vertical clues, 12d and 5d.

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