Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28853 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28853] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Mr K | |
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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Introduction
Anagram lovers will be disappointed by the scarcity of anagrams in today's puzzle — and cat lovers will surely note the dearth of felines in Mr K's review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog.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
5a Greek character hosting a // dance (7)
Lambda[5] is the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ).
The lambada[5] is a fast erotic Brazilian dance which couples perform in close physical contact.
7a A role // not being taken into account (5)
Apart[5] is an adverb used to to indicate that one is dismissing something from consideration or moving from one tone or topic to another ⇒ (i)
Alaska apart, much of America's energy business concentrates on producing gas; (ii)
joking apart, they do a really remarkable job.
9a Groups of workers across English // river (6)
10a Form of verse // member of the clergy abridged, then cut (8)
A clerihew[5] is a short comic or nonsensical verse, typically in two rhyming couplets with lines of unequal length and referring to a famous person.
Origin: 1920s: named after Edmund Clerihew Bentley who invented it.
Delving Deeper
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| One of Bentley's best known clerihews[7] is the following:
Sir Christopher Wren
Said, "I am going to dine with some men. If anyone calls Say I am designing St. Paul's." |
11a Check // popular page in part of paper (10)
"page" = P [publishing] (show explanation )
13a Ruin // atmosphere in retreat (4)
14a Game // chap who delivers, opening in second innings (8,5)
Although the term is likely not unfamiliar to most Canadians, postman[5] is the British term for mailman[5].
In cricket, knock is an informal term for an innings (show explanation ), especially of an individual batsman ⇒
In cricket, innings[5] (plural same or informally inningses) can denote any of:
The second sense would be roughly equivalent to an at bat in baseball. One difference is that a cricket player can have only one innings (sense 2) per innings (sense 1) although a turn at batting can be quite lengthy (long enough for Marsh to score 78 runs in the usage example for sense 3). In baseball, it is possible for a player to have more than one at bat during a single inning (players continue to bat around the order until the fielding team achieves three outs and if the batting team has more than nine at bats during an inning, one or more players will have multiple at bats in the inning).
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a splendid knock of 117 against Somerset.
In cricket, innings[5] (plural same or informally inningses) can denote any of:
- each of two or four divisions of a game during which one side has a turn at batting ⇒
the highlight of the Surrey innings
- a player’s turn at batting ⇒
he had played his greatest innings
- the score achieved during a player’s turn at batting ⇒
a solid innings of 78 by Marsh
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The second sense would be roughly equivalent to an at bat in baseball. One difference is that a cricket player can have only one innings (sense 2) per innings (sense 1) although a turn at batting can be quite lengthy (long enough for Marsh to score 78 runs in the usage example for sense 3). In baseball, it is possible for a player to have more than one at bat during a single inning (players continue to bat around the order until the fielding team achieves three outs and if the batting team has more than nine at bats during an inning, one or more players will have multiple at bats in the inning).
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Postman's knock[5] is a British game, played especially by children, in which imaginary letters are delivered in exchange for kisses. In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K provides the following link to an explanation of the game of Postman's Knock.
16a Appear /in/ court before foremost of magistrates (4)
17a They may relieve tension /in/ derby as row breaks out (5,5)
19a Female diarist shot, /gets/ immediate attention (5,3)
I saw the enumeration and immediately thought Anaïs Nin[5].
20a Accepted // elderly must imbibe red, mostly (6)
22a Private detective I use /is/ rubbish! (2,3)
The wordplay has to be treated as an entire phrase. Thus the phrase "private detective that I use" is equivalent to "my private detective".
Eye[10] is an informal term for private eye[10], which in its own right is an informal term for a private detective.
My eye[5] (or all my eye and Betty Martin) is a dated, informal British expression used to indicate surprise or disbelief.
23a For example, leader of group, chief // boffin (7)
Boffin[5] is an informal British term denoting:
- a person engaged in scientific or technical research ⇒
the boffins at the Telecommunications Research Establishment
- a person with knowledge or a skill considered to be complex or arcane ⇒
a computer boffin
Down
1d Complacent // son, soft touch (4)
"son" = S [genealogy] (show explanation )
Mug[5] is an informal British term for a stupid or gullible person ⇒
they were no mugs where finance was concerned.
2d Covers one with // peppery seeds (8)
Cum[5] is a preposition meaning combined with or used as (used to describe things with a dual nature or function) ⇒
a study-cum-bedroom.
The Story Behind the Picture
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| Mr K illustrates his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog with a photo of a "censored graduation cake" [I hate to think what the overly-sensitive cake decorator thought the missing word referred to]. I wonder how meaningful the picture would be to Brits, as Oxford Dictionaries Online characterises summa cum laude[5] as a North American term (meaning with the highest distinction) ⇒ (i) he graduated summa cum laude; (ii) three scientific degrees, all summa cum laude. Origin: Latin, literally ‘with highest praise’. |
With one exception, my dictionaries define capsicum[5] in a similar fashion to Oxford Dictionaries Online as a tropical American plant of the nightshade family with fruits (peppers) containing many seeds. Many cultivated kinds have been developed including the sweet peppers and the chilli peppers.
However, alone among the several dictionaries that I consult on a regular basis, The Chambers Dictionary extends the definition of capsicum[1] to include the dried seeds of other species, yielding paprika and cayenne pepper.
3d Adjusted TV near // bar (6)
4d Mate in Italian city hugging daughter // -- Anna, perhaps (10)
In Britain, mate[5] — in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner — is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
my best mate Steve.
"daughter" = D [genealogy] (show explanation )
This clue took forever to unravel as I was obsessed with the idea that the word "in" must be a containment indicator.
5d Acquire a knowledge /of/ humorist and knight (5)
Edward Lear[5] (1812–88) was an English humorist and illustrator. He wrote A Book of Nonsense (1845) and Laughable Lyrics (1877). He also published illustrations of birds and of his travels around the Mediterranean.
"knight" = N [chess notation] (show explanation )
A knight[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a horse’s head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three. Each player starts the game with two knights.
N[5] is the abbreviation for knight used in recording moves in chess [representing the pronunciation of kn-, since the initial letter k- represents 'king'].
As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary defines:
On the other hand, both The Chambers Dictionary and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary list K or K.[1,11] as an abbreviation for knight without specifying the specific context in which this abbreviation is used. However, the context may well be in an honours list rather than in a game of chess. In the UK, for instance, KBE[5] stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
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A knight[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a horse’s head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three. Each player starts the game with two knights.
N[5] is the abbreviation for knight used in recording moves in chess [representing the pronunciation of kn-, since the initial letter k- represents 'king'].
As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary defines:
- K[2] as an abbreviation used in chess for knight.
- K[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a king.
- N[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a knight.
On the other hand, both The Chambers Dictionary and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary list K or K.[1,11] as an abbreviation for knight without specifying the specific context in which this abbreviation is used. However, the context may well be in an honours list rather than in a game of chess. In the UK, for instance, KBE[5] stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
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6d Where lots go to join // game (7,6)
Auction bridge[5] is an obsolete form* of the card game bridge, in which all tricks won counted towards the game whether bid or not.
* Contract bridge[5] is now the standard form of the game, in which only tricks bid and won count towards the game, as opposed to auction bridge.
8d Article on pitch /in/ Gibraltar (3,4)
The Rock[5] is an informal name for Gibraltar, a British overseas territory near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar (show more ).
Occupying a site of great strategic importance, Gibraltar consists of a fortified town and military base at the foot of a rocky headland, the Rock of Gibraltar. Britain captured it during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and is responsible for its defence, external affairs, and internal security.
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Occupying a site of great strategic importance, Gibraltar consists of a fortified town and military base at the foot of a rocky headland, the Rock of Gibraltar. Britain captured it during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and is responsible for its defence, external affairs, and internal security.
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12d New spares sent round have to // meet a required standard (4,6)
14d Cover charge? (7)
Here and There
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| When it comes to describing insurance protection, while the same verb form is used in Britain and North America, we
use a different form of the noun on this side of the pond. As a verb, cover[5] means to protect against a liability, loss, or accident involving financial consequences ⇒ your contents are now covered against accidental loss or damage in transit. However, in the UK, the word cover[5] is also used as a noun to denote protection by insurance against a liability, loss, or accident ⇒ your policy provides cover against damage by subsidence. This is equivalent to the North American term coverage[5] meaning the amount of protection given by an insurance policy ⇒ your policy provides coverage against damage by subsidence. Note that Mr K (a resident of the US) uses the North American term in his hint. |
15d Left fabulous ship south of central // island (3,5)
In Greek mythology, the Argo[10] was the ship in which Jason sailed in search of the Golden Fleece.
Key Largo[5] is a resort island off the south coast of Florida, the northernmost and the longest of the Florida Keys.
17d Treacherous type /in/ West stand (6)
18d The old man ringing about // object of fear (5)
Dread[10,12] (noun) is used in the sense of an object of terror or something dreaded.
21d Artist capturing male // bird that can't fly (4)
"artist" = RA (show explanation )
A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain.
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A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain.
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The rhea[5] is a large flightless bird of South American grasslands, resembling a small ostrich with greyish-brown plumage.
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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