Saturday, February 22, 2020 — Batteries Included

Introduction

Today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon introduces us to an eclectic mix of people and places from around the world.

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

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 program, 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 directly from a dictionary or at least phrased in a non-misleading fashion similar to one that would be found in a dictionary
• 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 (for example, defining topiary as "clip art")
• a "whimsical definition": a definition "invented" by the setter often by extrapolating a non-existent meaning for a word from a similar word (for example, defining a bird as a "winger" [something possessing wings] or a river as a ''flower" [something that flows] or to extrapolate that, since disembowel means 'to remove the innards of ', that discontent must mean 'to remove the contents of')
• a "definition by example": the presence of one of these is often flagged with a question mark (for example, defining atoll as "coral?" where an atoll is but one form that coral may take).

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 other varieties of definition (such as cryptic definitions, whimsical definitions, definitions by example, etc.) 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	Scientist // I observed getting pimples and heavy weight (5,6)

I|SA(AC NE)W|TON —  I (†) + {SAW (observed) containing (getting) ACNE (pimples)} + (and) TON (heavy weight)

Sir Isaac Newton^[5] (1642–1727) was an English mathematician and physicist, considered the greatest single influence on theoretical physics until Einstein.

7a	Past U.S. president // in Scotland understood one-third of you (7)

KENNED|Y — KENNED (in Scotland understood; interpreted as in Scotland, understood) + Y (one-third of you; one of three letters in the word 'You')

John F. Kennedy^[5] (1917–1963), the 35th president of the US 1961–3, was the youngest man ever to be elected US president (at 43).

8a	Causes bad feelings // right in front of low-down joints (7)

R|ANKLES — R(ight) preceding (in front of) ANKLES (low-down joints)

10a	Spanish hero/,/ 100, wearing English hat (2,3)

E|L (C)ID — C ([Roman numeral for] 100) contained in (wearing) {E(nglish) + LID (hat)}

El Cid^[5], Count of Bivar (c.1043–1099) was a Spanish soldier; born Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. A champion of Christianity against the Moors, in 1094 he captured Valencia, which he went on to rule.

11a	“Smooth” guitarist penning article /for/ Mexican general (5,4)

SANTA (AN)NA — SANTANA (“Smooth” guitarist) containing (penning) AN ([indefinite] article)

Carlos Santana^[7] is a Mexican and American guitarist who rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of rock and roll and Latin American jazz. "Smooth" is the lead single on his 1999 comeback album, Supernatural. The song, a dynamic cha-cha stop-start number co-written and sung by Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, is laced throughout with Santana's guitar fills and runs.

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Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón^[7] (1794–1876), often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, was a Mexican politician and general who initially fought to defend royalist New Spain, later switching allegiances to fight for Mexican independence.

12a	Sister follows cattle // movement (7)

KINE|SIS — SIS(ter) following (follows) KINE ([archaic name for] cattle)

14a	Wise man/’s/ unaccompanied flight on Monday (7)

SOLO|MON — SOLO (unaccompanied flight) + (on; attached to) MON(day)

Solomon^[7], son of David, was king of ancient Israel c.970–c.930 BC. In the Bible Solomon is traditionally associated with the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs, while his wisdom is illustrated by the Judgement of Solomon^*.

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^* The Judgment of Solomon^[7] is a story from the Bible (1 Kings 3:16–28) in which King Solomon of Israel ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. Solomon revealed their true feelings and relationship to the child by suggesting to cut the baby in two, with each woman to receive half. With this strategy, he was able to discern the non-mother as the woman who entirely approved of this proposal, while the actual mother begged that the sword might be sheathed and the child committed to the care of her rival.

16a	Stunt cut short after problem with bloating // of the stomach (7)

GAS|TRIC — TRIC[K] (stunt) with the final letter removed (cut short) following (after) GAS (problem with bloating)

18a	Mr. Magoo’s first // name wrong (7)

MISTER|M — MISTER (Mr.) + M (Magoo's first [initial letter])

19a	Plant // adorns oar, oddly (6,3)

{AARON'S ROD}* — anagram of (oddly) ADORNS OAR

Aaron's rod^[5] is term for the great or common mullein (plant).

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Origin: alluding to Aaron, brother of Moses, whose staff was said to have flowered (Num. 17:8).

21a	A Republican boy/’s/ burning desire? (5)

A|R|SON — A (†) + R(epublican) + SON (boy)

22a	Uncertainty about the French // jacket (7)

DOUB(LE)T —DOUBT (uncertainty) containing (about) LE (the French; French definite article)

23a	Tells // what skills are possessed by rascals? (7)

I offer two alternative parsings:

IMP|ARTS — IMP (as a modifier, denoting 'possessed by rascals') + ARTS (what [which specific] skills)

Under this interpretation (which I consider to be the better of the two), the solution is the answer to the question posed by the wordplay.

IMP(ART)S — ART (what [which specific] skills) contained in (are possessed by) IMPS (rascals)

In this interpretation, 'art' is used as a collective term for 'skills'.

24a	Armadas seal off // African port (3,2,6)

{DAR ES SALAAM}* — anagram of (off) ARMADAS SEAL

Dar es Salaam^[5] is the chief port and former capital of Tanzania. It was founded in 1866 by the sultan of Zanzibar. Its Arabic name means ‘haven of peace’.

Down

1d	Lambs // love lodging in tavern with small change (9)

INN(O)CENTS — O (love; nil score [0 (zero)] in tennis) contained in (lodging in) INN (tavern) + CENTS (small change)}

2d	Guys stuck in spot // change for the better (5)

A(MEN)D — MEN (guys) contained in (stuck in) AD ([commercial] spot)

3d	Island employs // some ponies (7)

CAY|USES — CAY (island) + USES (employs)

4d	Missions // Reds ran badly (7)

ERRANDS* — anagram of (badly) REDS RAN

5d	Shelter experts bearing fifty // arms (9)

TENT|AC(L)ES — TENT (shelter) + ACES (experts) containing (bearing) L ([Roman numeral for] fifty)

6d	Kind of hose // New York left running (5)

NY|L|ON — NY (New York) + L(eft) + ON (running; operating)

7d	Philosopher/,/ a dark Greek I caricatured (11)

KIERKEGAARD* — anagram of (caricatured; rendered in an exaggerated, distorted manner) A DARK GREEK I

Søren Kierkegaard^[5] (1813–1855) was a Danish philosopher. A founder of existentialism, he affirmed the importance of individual experience and choice and believed one could know God only through a ‘leap of faith’, and not through doctrine.

9d	Marine polyps/:/ a man sees one moving (3,8)

(SEA ANEMONES}* — anagram of (moving) A MAN ONE SEES

13d	Front of log wrapped by alien // vine, at times (9)

STRANG(L)ER — L (front [initial letter] of Log) contained in (wrapped by) STRANGER (alien)

15d	Mars Motel renovated // whirlpool (9)

MAELSTROM* — anagram of (renovated) MARS MOTEL

17d	Priests’ assistants // dined, surrounded by mongrels (7)

CUR(ATE)S — ATE (dined) contained in (surrounded by) CURS (mongrels)

18d	Wine // manufactured by group involved in the Troubles (7)

MADE|IRA — MADE (manufactured) + (by) IRA (group involved in the Troubles)

The Troubles^[5] refers to any of various periods of civil war or unrest in Ireland, especially in 1919–23 and (in Northern Ireland) since 1968. The Irish Republican Army (IRA)^[5] was the
military arm of Sinn Fein, a political movement and party seeking union between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The IRA was formed during the struggle for independence from Britain in 1916–21. In 2005, the IRA announced that it had ended its armed campaign.

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Madeira^[5] is a fortified wine from Madeira, a Portuguese island located in the Atlantic Ocean off north-western Africa.

20d	Cut of meat // made into hamburger after the first (5)

_ROUND — [G]ROUND (made into hamburger) with the initial letter removed (after the first [letter])

21d	Surreal phantom carries // letter for Plato (5)

_AL|PHA_ — hidden in (carries) surreAL PHAntom

Epilogue

This puzzle includes 6 AA batteries.

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 Advanced 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