Puzzle at a Glance
|
|---|
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29267 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, January 23, 2020 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29267] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Kath | |
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
| |
Notes
| |
This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, September 5, 2020 edition of the National Post.
| |
Introduction
As is not unusual for a RayT puzzle, the difficulty and enjoyment ratings reported in the comments section of Big Dave's Crossword Blog range all over the map. The puzzle clearly left Brian seeing stars.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.
| Markup Conventions | |
|
|
| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 1a | Lively embraces providing // calm (6) |
Pacy[5] (also pacey) [a word conspicuously absent from US dictionaries] is an adjective meaning moving or progressing quickly ⇒
a pacy thriller.
| 4a | Area like this contains container /for/ plant (8) |
The acanthus[5]
is a herbaceous plant or shrub with bold flower
spikes and spiny decorative leaves, found in warm regions of the Old
World.| 9a | Serious // doctor absorbed by wound? (6) |
"doctor " = MB
In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree.
Historically, Bachelor of Medicine was also the primary medical degree conferred by institutions in the United States and Canada. Throughout the 19th century, North American medical schools switched to the tradition of the ancient universities of Scotland and began conferring Doctor of Medicine rather than Bachelor of Medicine.
hide
In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree.
Historically, Bachelor of Medicine was also the primary medical degree conferred by institutions in the United States and Canada. Throughout the 19th century, North American medical schools switched to the tradition of the ancient universities of Scotland and began conferring Doctor of Medicine rather than Bachelor of Medicine.
hide
| 10a | Spending up front, reportedly, /showing/ generosity? (8) |
| 11a | Docile // old criminal welcomes end (8) |
"old " = O [linguistics]
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
hide
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
OFr[Old French]; (ii)
OE[Old English].
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
hide
In Britain, the word bent[5] has the same connotation (dishonest or corrupt) as does the word crooked[5] in North America.
* It would appear that Brits use crooked as well as bent in this sense.
| 13a | Test // gold before transaction (6) |
| 15a | Dismay /of/ criminal's time with Queen and Country (13) |
| 18a | Defiant // trade union's bid curtailed undergoing restructure (13) |
| 22a | Outfit // with flexibility (6) |
Supply[5] is a variant spelling of supplely[5], an adverb meaning 'in a supple manner'.
| 24a | Sober? // Stand almost everybody swallowing short! (8) |
Short[5] (noun) is a British term for a drink of spirits served in a small measure* or, as Collins English Dictionary puts it, a short[10] is a drink of spirits as opposed to a long drink such as beer.
Tot[5] is a British term for a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy ⇒
a tot of brandy.
"sober " = teetotal
Teetotal[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) means choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol ⇒
A teetotaller[5] (US teetotaler; abbreviation TT[5]) is a person who never drinks alcohol.
The term teetotal is an emphatic extension of total, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston [England], in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than mere abstinence from spirits, as advocated by some early temperance reformers.
hide
Teetotal[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) means choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol ⇒
a teetotal lifestyle.
A teetotaller[5] (US teetotaler; abbreviation TT[5]) is a person who never drinks alcohol.
The term teetotal is an emphatic extension of total, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston [England], in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than mere abstinence from spirits, as advocated by some early temperance reformers.
hide
| 26a | Detectives going back on record is nothing // irregular (8) |
"detectives " = DIS [detective inspectors]
A detective inspector (abbrevation DI[5]) is a senior police officer in the UK. Within the British police, inspector[7] is the second supervisory rank. It is senior to that of sergeant, but junior to that of chief inspector. Plain-clothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
hide
A detective inspector (abbrevation DI[5]) is a senior police officer in the UK. Within the British police, inspector[7] is the second supervisory rank. It is senior to that of sergeant, but junior to that of chief inspector. Plain-clothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
hide
"record " = EP [extended play]
EP[10] (abbreviation for extended-play) is one of the formats in which music is sold, usually comprising four or five tracks. An EP contains more cuts than a single[5] but fewer than an LP or long-playing[5] record.
hide
EP[10] (abbreviation for extended-play) is one of the formats in which music is sold, usually comprising four or five tracks. An EP contains more cuts than a single[5] but fewer than an LP or long-playing[5] record.
hide
| 27a | Archaic lilac occasionally /produces/ bush (6) |
The acacia[5] (also acacia tree)* is a tree or shrub of warm climates which bear spikes or clusters of yellow or white flowers and are typically thorny.
* also called wattle, especially in Australia
| 28a | Field vehicle finally takes red // fuel (8) |
Ken[5] denotes one’s range of knowledge or understanding ⇒
politics are beyond my ken.
Here and There
| |
|---|---|
| Kerosene[5,14] is the North American term for what is known in the UK as paraffin[10] (also paraffin oil). However, the term does not seem to be entirely foreign to Brits as Collins English Dictionary defines kerosene (or kerosine) as the general name for paraffin as a fuel for jet aircraft. |
| 29a | States // concerned with welfare (6) |
Alms[5] (in historical contexts) is money or food given to poor people ⇒
the riders stopped to distribute alms.
Down
| 1d | Sump is to necessitate purchasing // engine part (6) |
Scratching the Surface
| |
|---|---|
| Sump[5] is the British name for an oil pan[5], the base of an internal combustion engine, which serves as a reservoir of oil for the lubrication system. |
| 2d | Launches // advances holding soldiers caught (9) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
hide
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
hide
| 3d | Overseas // France beginning to overthrow government (7) |
| 5d | Start to chinwag and have aimless talk (4) |
The entire clue not only provides the wordplay but I would say that it could also be considered to be the definition.
| 6d | Perfect area to climb missing old // country (7) |
"Old" reprises its role from 11a (will the " repetition radar" be going off on Big Dave's Crossword Blog).
| 7d | Described by Mach, a steady // velocity (5) |
The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which seems to rely on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate ⇒
skaters describing circles on the ice*.
* Although, to be precise, it is the tracks made by the skaters' blades that describe the circles.
Scratching the Surface
| |
|---|---|
| M[10] is the symbol for Mach[10] (short for Mach number[10] and often not capitalized), the ratio of the speed of a body in a particular medium to the speed of sound in that medium. Mach number 1 (M1) corresponds to the speed of sound. |
| 8d | Charming // activity of bee? (8) |
| 12d | Public official // never admits to being promoted (6) |
According to The Chambers Dictionary, nary[1] is a North American* or dialect word meaning never or not.
* The Chambers Dictionary is the only source where I found this word defined as a North American term. Other dictionaries[2,4,5,10,12] merely show it as a dialect word.
| 14d | Applaud /using/ force to apprehend adult (6) |
"adult " = A [former British film certificate]
The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
hide
The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
hide
| 16d | Same // turning, indicate left (9) |
| 17d | Say something wrong /seeing/ girl on top (8) |
| 19d | Irritable /seeing/ account not closed over debts (7) |
| 20d | Piece /by/ piece going topless (7) |
| 21d | Ships circling large // swells (6) |
| 23d | Former // nosey parker, we hear (5) |
Nosy parker[5] (or nosey parker[1]) is an informal British term for an overly inquisitive person.
Origin: The expression comes from an early 20th century postcard caption ‘The Adventures of Nosey Parker’, referring to a peeping Tom in London's Hyde Park.
| 25d | Family sitting round large // oven (4) |
Another encore, this time by "large" which we recently encountered in 21d.
Key to Reference Sources:
[1] - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2] - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3] - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4] - TheFreeDictionarycom (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
Hi Falcon. Trust you're staying well and sane.
ReplyDeleteManaged to complete without help, but I prefer puzzles where I decipher the clue and then discover the answer. With Ray T, it's more likely to be the reverse. This may partly explain the mixed reviews he receives.
Richard,
DeleteGood to hear from you again. I'm doing reasonably well under the trying circumstances that we are all facing these days.
Yes, RayT does manage to find some unusual synonyms so I often find myself scouring the dictionaries after the fact trying to justify them.