Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29363 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, May 14, 2020 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29363]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Kath | |
BD rating
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| Difficulty - ★★ | Enjoyment - ★★★★ |
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ | |
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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
For a RayT puzzle, this is a pretty gentle mental workout.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 | |
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| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 1a | Detective's certain to accept appeal /for/ offence (11) |
"detective " = DI [detective inspector]
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).
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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).
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| 10a | Method is reported /to produce/ delicious food (5) |
The word "manner" , when pronounced in a non-rhotic accent (show explanation ) typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain (especially southeastern England), sounds like "manna" .
Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.
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Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.
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According to The Chambers Dictionary, manna[1] is:
- the food miraculously provided for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exod. 16:14-36)
- delicious food for the body or mind
- anything advantageous happening to one as by divine intervention or fate
- ...
| 11a | Menial cop turns into // officer (9) |
| 12a | Nearly being in harmony squeezing old // instrument (9) |
"old | 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.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
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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.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
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| 13a | Work over taking sexy // snap (5) |
"work " = OP [opus]
In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
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In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
he was writing an opus on Mexico.
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| 14a | Carpeted perhaps, // made of strong stuff? (6) |
A double definition where the first one is whimsical. The setter imagines that rug is a verb — after all, if carpet can be a verb as well as a noun, why can't rug do the same.
| 16a | Mugs inside stand mostly /for/ judge again (8) |
Mug[5] is an informal British term for a stupid or gullible person ⇒
they were no mugs where finance was concerned.
Ass[5] is an informal British term for a foolish or stupid person.
| 18a | Who flogs // beer on board? One on board (8) |
A man[5] is a figure or token used in playing a board game ⇒
Mr Kravchuk, who prides himself on his chess-playing prowess, did not give up his man easily.
| 20a | Kicked out /of/ sack keeping excessively upset (6) |
The word "of" is used as a link word between the definition and wordplay. (show more )
| 23a | Grass // one found in jungle? (5) |
Maize[5] is the British name for what is called corn*[5] in North America (as well as Australia and New Zealand).
* In Britain, corn refers to the chief cereal crop of a district, especially (in England) wheat or (in Scotland) oats. However, to further complicate the picture, maize for human consumption is known as sweetcorn[5] in the UK, the core of an ear of maize, to which the kernals are attached, is called a corncob[10], and when eaten straight from the cob it is referred to as corn on the cob[5].
| 24a | Weapon // going wrong held by the German (9) |
"the German " = DER
| 26a | Get round // to eating bananas with sweetheart (9) |
"sweetheart " = E
A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
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A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
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| 27a | Ready /to get/ beer right before time (5) |
| 28a | Record single penned by hit Queen // performer (11) |
"Queen " = ER [regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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Down
| 2d | Interesting order noticeable in columns originally (5) |
This is an acrostic clue in which the solution is formed from the initial letters (originally) of the first five words of the clue. The definition is embedded in wordplay. Should you happen to consider the definition to be incomplete without the word "interesting", feel free to include it as well. After all, these structures would no doubt be of interest to an archaeologist.
Ionic[5] is a classical order of architecture characterized by a column with scroll shapes (volutes) on either side of the capital.
Delving Deeper
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The three orders of ancient Greek or classical architecture[7] were the Doric, the Ionic and the Corinthian. These orders are distinguished principally by the style of the capital found on the columns. | |
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Orders of Ancient Greek Architecture 
Left: Architectural elements of the Doric Order showing simple curved echinus of capital Centre: Capital of the Ionic Order showing volutes and ornamented echinus Right: Capital of the Corinthian Order showing foliate decoration and vertical volutes.
An echinus[5] is a rounded moulding below an abacus on a Doric or Ionic capital.
An abacus[5] is the flat slab on top of a capital, supporting the architrave[5], or main beam resting across the tops of the columns. | |
| 3d | Plain // couple that is welcoming affair, finally (7) |
| 4d | Life /of/ priest in strange order (6) |
| 5d | One helps to hush up a report (8) |
| 6d | Unusually precise // instructions (7) |
| 7d | Mistakenly marries best man losing one/'s/ shame (13) |
| 8d | Revealing // this compiler's style's primarily tricky (8) |
"this compiler's " = IM
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "this compiler" with the verb "to be"* producing "this compiler's" (a contraction of "this compiler is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").
* Although in the surface reading "this compiler's" is showing possession, in the wordplay it is interpreted as a contraction of "this compiler is".
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It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "this compiler" with the verb "to be"* producing "this compiler's" (a contraction of "this compiler is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").
* Although in the surface reading "this compiler's" is showing possession, in the wordplay it is interpreted as a contraction of "this compiler is".
hide
| 9d | Unkind // extraordinary rendition case (13) |
| 15d | Horses incapable of continuing race? (8) |
| 17d | Plant // worker beginning to deploy garden tool (8) |
Mandrake[5] is a Mediterranean plant of the nightshade family, with a forked fleshy root which supposedly resembles the human form and which was formerly used in herbal medicine and magic; it was alleged to shriek when pulled from the ground.
| 19d | Small number clothing small // honey (7) |
| 21d | Sort of art // foundation almost inspiring amateur (7) |
The two-letter abbreviation for amateur is not found in my copy of The Chambers Dictionary (11th Edition) nor in any of the other dictionaries that I consult on a regular basis.
| 22d | Strong // garden tool holds (6) |
| 25d | Birds // fancy heading south east (5) |
Fancy[5] (often in the phrase fancy that) is a British expression used to express surprise at something ⇒ (i)
fancy meeting all those television actors!; (ii)
Fancy that, there's more to life than just shopping.
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] - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6] - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (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
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