Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28803 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, July 28, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28803 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28803 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Tilsit (Hints)gnomethang (Review) | |
BD Rating
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| 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
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Notes
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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.
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Introduction
My vocabulary was expanded by at least a couple of words as a result of this puzzle.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:
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The review of a clue takes the following general structure:
#a/d Clue containing parsing markup (num*)
* num = numeration
Explanations pertaining to the wordplay (or first definition in a double definition)
(Horizontal separator)
Explanatory Box
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| 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:
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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.
ExamplesI 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.
A few examples may help to illustrate these points more clearly.
The first example is a clue used by Jay in DT 28573:
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).
- 4d Fellow left work // a failure (4)
The second example is a clue used by Giovanni in DT 28575:
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.
- 29a Female going to match // travels with mother in advance (10)
The third example is a clue used by Rufus is DT 28583:
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/).
- 18d Knight caught by misplaced big blow /is/ staggering (8)
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)
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
3a Old money I study /for/ monk (10)
The franc[5] is the basic monetary unit of Switzerland and several other countries, equal to 100 centimes as well as being the former basic monetary unit of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (replaced by the euro in 2002).
A Franciscan[5] is a friar, sister, or lay member of a Christian religious
order founded in 1209 by St Francis of Assisi or based on its rule, and
noted for its preachers and missionaries. (show more )
Divergences of practice led to the separation of the Friars Minor of the Observance (the Observants) and the Friars Minor Conventual (the Conventuals) in 1517, and to the foundation of the stricter Friars Minor Capuchin (the Capuchins) in 1529. The order of Franciscan nuns was founded by St Clare (c.1212) under the direction of St Francis; they are known as ‘Poor Clares’.
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Divergences of practice led to the separation of the Friars Minor of the Observance (the Observants) and the Friars Minor Conventual (the Conventuals) in 1517, and to the foundation of the stricter Friars Minor Capuchin (the Capuchins) in 1529. The order of Franciscan nuns was founded by St Clare (c.1212) under the direction of St Francis; they are known as ‘Poor Clares’.
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8a Ashore, adrift /and/ sounding rough (6)
9a Fight against it being contained // on the other side (8)
10a Something to stop a blue // building (8)
11a Am in east, after start of feast, /where there's/ a shortage of food (6)
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I believe gnomethang has been overly generous in allocating words to the definition.
12a Tender name designed /to be/ term of affection (10)
14a Shallow // jar and cups Enid replaced (6-7)
Rattle-brained[5] denotes empty-headed, stupid; foolish and noisy.
20a Cheaper /in/ Irish county fair (10)
Down[5] is one of the Six Counties of Northern Ireland, since 1973 an administrative district.
A fair[5] is a periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Downmarket[5] (adjective or adverb) is a British term denoting towards or relating to the cheaper or less prestigious sector of the market ⇒ (i) [as an adjective]
an interview for the downmarket tabloids; (ii) [as an adverb]
competition threatens to drive broadcasters further downmarket.
22a Maiden being absorbed in tale /that's/ wild (6)
"maiden" = M (show explanation )
In cricket, a maiden[5], also known as a maiden over and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation m.[10], is an over* in which no runs are scored.
* An over[5] is 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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In cricket, a maiden[5], also known as a maiden over and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation m.[10], is an over* in which no runs are scored.
* An over[5] is 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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23a Everyone that is outside can upset // union (8)
24a Kind William /having/ friendly disposition (8)
Will[7] (or Wil) is a given name, often a short form (hypocorism*) of William. Wilhelmina or Willeke.
* an Oxford don's term for 'diminutive' (had I felt pretentious, I might have used its equivalent, hypocoristicon)
25a Charlie and Romeo/'s/ plant (6)
Charlie[5] is a code word representing the letter C, used in radio communication.
A Romeo[5] is an attractive, passionate male seducer or lover ⇒
I saw her heading out the door with some rug-chested young Romeo.
Scratching the Surface
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| Romeo[5] is a code word representing the letter R, used in radio communication. |
26a Those present // at ball about two hours before midnight? (10)
Down
1d Like a newspaper perhaps, // having a right to support post? (8)
2d Piece /from/ blokes after horseplay in broadsheet (8)
"blokes" = MEN (show explanation )
Bloke[5] is an informal British* term for a man ⇒
* 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
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Bloke[5] is an informal British* term for a man ⇒
he’s a nice bloke.
* 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
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Rag[5] is a dated, informal British term for a boisterous prank or practical joke ⇒
the college is preparing for a good old rag tonight.
Broadsheet[5] denotes a newspaper with a large format, regarded as more serious and less sensationalist than tabloids ⇒
the tabloidization of the broadsheets.
I thought this was a common journalism term and was surprised not to find it in many of my American dictionaries.
The Financial Times[7] (abbreviation FT) is a British international business newspaper that is printed on conspicuous salmon pink newsprint.
3d What might be used for touching // proposal? (6)
A feeler[5] is a tentative proposal intended to ascertain someone's attitude or opinion ⇒
he has already put out feelers to local employers.
4d Admit // a Volkswagen has nothing inside (4)
Avow[5] is used in the sense of to admit openly.
5d Refreshing drink -- // another one is a different matter (3,2,3)
The latter part of the clue is an allusion to the expression another cup of tea[1] meaning a very different thing.
6d Notice missile entering that // plant (6)
I have included the word "that" as part of the wordplay which I parse as SEE (notice) containing (entering that [where "that" denotes 'the foregoing']) SAM (missile).
However, I don't think it would be wrong to include the word "that" as part of the definition:
- Notice missile entering // that plant (6)
SAM[5] is an acronym for surface-to-air missile.
Sesame[5] is a tall annual herbaceous plant of tropical and subtropical areas of the Old World, cultivated for its oil-rich seeds.
7d Temporary // work on stage (6)
13d It's in middle of arm, /or/ could be below when broken (5)
15d Hen // that's spotted in the garden? (8)
Ladybird[5] is the British name for a ladybug[5].
16d One telling story /of/ island going up over rocky height (8)
Arran[5] is an island in the Firth of Clyde, in the west of Scotland.
"rocky height" = TOR (show explanation )
A tor[7] is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves – particularly the high points of Dartmoor in Devon and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
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A tor[7] is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves – particularly the high points of Dartmoor in Devon and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
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17d Doctor and surgeon in terrible need // forced medicine down (8)
The abbreviation for surgeon is ch.[7] [from chirurgeon, an archaic spelling of surgeon].
Drench[5] means to forcibly administer a drug in liquid form orally to (an animal) ⇒
three-times-a-year drenching for calves.
18d Partly devout, mostly // extreme (6)
19d Game // cut short when American leaves (6)
21d Spite /shown by/ married lady (6)
23d Man // turned up during final attack (4)
Key to Reference Sources:Signing off for today — Falcon
[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)
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