Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29400 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, June 26, 2020 | |
Setter
proXimal (Steve Bartlett) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29400]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Deep Threat | |
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
Puzzles set by proXimal are usually marked by one of two trademarks — either the presence of all letters of the alphabet with the eXception of X or the appearance of four instances of X. Today, he has chosen to employ the latter.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 | House supporting // part-time player (4-3) |
Semi[5,10] is an informal British* term for a semi-detached house ⇒
a three-bedroomed semi.
* Although both Lexico (new name for Oxford Dictionaries Online) and Collins English Dictionary consider this to be a British term, it is definitely a common term in this part of Canada. However, we would most certainly say ⇒
three-bedroom semirather than
three-bedroomed semi.
| 5a | Shock criminal pinching the Queen/'s/ neckwear (7) |
"the 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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| 9a | Graduate wrapping article, current // fad (5) |
| 10a | After dram, note phone // moving irregularly (9) |
Dram[5] is a Scottish term for a small drink of whiskey or other spirits ⇒
a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.
Tot[5] is a British term for a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy ⇒
a tot of brandy.
"note " = TE [in tonic sol-fa, the seventh note of a major scale]
From a perusal of entries in American and British dictionaries, I gather that the only recognized spelling of this musical note in the US would be ti[3,11,12] while British dictionaries split into two camps. Two British dictionaries give the principal spelling as te[2,4,10] with ti[2,4,10] as an alternative spelling while two others take the contrary position, giving the spelling as ti[1,5] with te[1,5] as an alternative spelling.
Note that the sister publications, The Chambers Dictionary[1] and Chambers 21st Century Dictionary[2], are diametrically opposed on the issue and Lexico[5] (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) has done a complete about face as I have notes in my files from a previous review showing that "Oxford Dictionaries decrees that te is the British spelling with ti being the North American spelling".
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From a perusal of entries in American and British dictionaries, I gather that the only recognized spelling of this musical note in the US would be ti[3,11,12] while British dictionaries split into two camps. Two British dictionaries give the principal spelling as te[2,4,10] with ti[2,4,10] as an alternative spelling while two others take the contrary position, giving the spelling as ti[1,5] with te[1,5] as an alternative spelling.
Note that the sister publications, The Chambers Dictionary[1] and Chambers 21st Century Dictionary[2], are diametrically opposed on the issue and Lexico[5] (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) has done a complete about face as I have notes in my files from a previous review showing that "Oxford Dictionaries decrees that te is the British spelling with ti being the North American spelling".
hide
| 11a | Persist with // boil, almost completely coarse (3,7) |
| 12a | Chemical element // unknown: discounting lead, tin and carbon (4) |
"unknown " = Z [algebraic notation]
In mathematics (algebra, in particular), an unknown[10] is a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation ⇒
In mathematical formulae, unknowns are typically represented symbolically by the letters x, y and z.
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In mathematics (algebra, in particular), an unknown[10] is a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation ⇒
3y = 4x + 5 is an equation in two unknowns.
In mathematical formulae, unknowns are typically represented symbolically by the letters x, y and z.
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| 14a | Stroke and buff // item of hardware (9,3) |
Butterfly nut[5] is another term for wing nut.
| 18a | Turning to police, lady // acted nonchalantly (6,2,4) |
The Missing Video Clip
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| For some reason, there always seems to be a problem with the video clips that Deep Threat inserts in his blog posts. Here is the first missing video clip: |
| 21a | Reportedly wished not /to have been/ ignorant (4) |
I have marked the clue a bit differently from Deep Threat in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. I see the words "to have been" as a link phrase rather than part of the wordplay. While I can not think of an example using the word "rued" that exactly matches the structure found in the clue, I can come close with
She rued having been ignorantwhich I believe demonstrates that the verb "to be" with its auxiliary verb "to have" is not part of the definition of "rued".
| 22a | Agree about withdrawal/'s/ intricacy (10) |
| 25a | Carpet // unorthodox at rear in a church (9) |
Minster[5] is a British term for a large or important church, typically one of cathedral status in the north of England that was built as part of a monastery ⇒
York Minster.
Axminster[5] (also Axminster carpet) is a kind of machine-woven patterned carpet with a cut pile.
Origin: Early 19th century named after the town of Axminster in southern England, noted since the 18th century for the production of carpets.
| 26a | Urgency /of/ hard master having no limits (5) |
| 27a | Who votes for // surrender? (5,2) |
The Missing Video Clip
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| Here is the second video clip missing from Deep Threat's review: I have to admit to never having heard of the French pop music duo Ottawan who had the hit singles "D.I.S.C.O." and "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" in the UK in the early 1980s. |
| 28a | Wretched orphan bearing old // weapon (7) |
"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.
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.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
Down
| 1d | Indian fare // like nothing mother's served up (6) |
In Indian cooking, a samosa[5] is a triangular savoury pastry fried in ghee or oil, containing spiced vegetables or meat.
| 2d | Cheeky girls /from/ north overcome by cocktails (6) |
| 3d | American in Yale intoxicated with posh // theatres (10) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Yale University[5] is a university at New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701, it is one of the most prestigious universities in the US. |
| 4d | Content in scout doing // best (5) |
As the definition, best is used as a verb.
| 5d | Absolute // fan of jazz, say, or disco occasionally (9) |
| 6d | Cattle // releasing core part of gas (4) |
| 7d | Issues /from/ leader in revolt falling (8) |
| 8d | Wisdom /of/ Turkish commander in southern metropolis (8) |
In Muslim countries, especially under the Ottoman Empire, aga[5,10] (or agha[10]) could denote:
- a title of respect, often used with the title of a senior position
- a military commander or official
Origin: Mid 16th century: from Turkish ağa ‘master, lord’, from Mongolian aqa.
| 13d | Completely // understand that woman supporting male singer (10) |
Alto[5] (especially in church music) is the highest adult male singing voice. It is also the lowest female singing voice, in which case it is also known as contralto.
| 15d | Both sons dismissed this non-stop // balding (4,2,3) |
The Missing Video Clip
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The third
video clip missing from Deep Threat's review is no longer available: |
| 16d | Father erected a porch after fixing // driveway, perhaps (8) |
| 17d | Prince informally introduced to monarch an // odd-jobber (8) |
In the UK*, HM[5] is the abbreviation for Her or His Majesty('s) ⇒
HM Forces.
* not to mention other Commonwealth Realms
Prince Andrew, Duke of York[7] (Andrew Albert Christian Edward) is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is currently eighth* in the line of succession to succeed his mother.
* Yes, he does rank ahead of his elder sister Anne in the line of succession; changes adopted in 2011 to eliminate gender bias in the laws of royal succession apply only to those born after 28 October 2011.
| 19d | Calamity // if climbing rocky coast shaking tons (6) |
| 20d | Monster // disembowelled both weedy, vile sailors (6) |
In heraldry, a wyvern[5] is a winged two-legged dragon with a barbed tail.
| 23d | Seat // covered in paper chains (5) |
| 24d | Boozers // regularly disposed of winnings (4) |
In Britain, boozer[5] is not only an informal term for a person who drinks large quantities of alcohol but also an informal term for a pub or bar.
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)
[15] - CollinsDictionary.com (Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd )
Signing off for today — Falcon
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