Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29463 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29463]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K | |
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
It took me a long time to establish a foothold (which I found near the bottom of the puzzle). From there I worked steadily—but very slowly—upwards, with eventually only 1d remaining unsolved. Although I am fairly certain that I have encountered the poet before, he totally slipped from mind and I had to call in electronic help to identify him.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 | Moving small // objects (7) |
In the wordplay, I took motive[5] (adjective) to be used in the sense of producing physical or mechanical motion ⇒
the charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke.
However, as Mr K points out in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, motive[1] is an obsolete term meaning moving [in, I presume, an emotional sense].
| 5a | Begged // to show editor following page (7) |
| 9a | Large craft capsized circumnavigating island, /creating/ distress (5) |
| 10a | Every other // beer keeps flier a little tense (9) |
"little [abbreviation for] tense " = T [grammar terminology]
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K describes ale asI certainly did a double take on reading this statement. It turns out that the definition of ale not only varies geographically but has changed over time.Beer made without hops. In Britain, ale[5] is any beer other than lager, stout, or porter. In North America, ale[5] is beer brewed by top fermentation*. * This would appear not to differ that much from the British definition, as lager[10] is brewed by bottom fermentation and thus, by definition, not an ale. Historically, ale[5] was a drink made like beer but without the addition of hops. Modern ale is most definitely flavoured with hops. |
| 11a | Sorting out // musical instrument, I blow the whistle (10) |
| 12a | Wrong // hospital wing (4) |
| 14a | Sweating /from/ exercises arranged in airports (12) |
Perspiration[5] is used in the sense of the process of sweating rather than (the substance) sweat ⇒
exercise causes perspiration ....
| 18a | Still // stormy, neither vessel leaves Italy (12) |
As a deletion indicator, leaves is used in the sense of abandons or discards.
| 21a | Broadcasts // songs (4) |
| 22a | Place for nuns and one on // diet? (10) |
Historically, a diet[5] was a regular meeting of the states of a confederation.
Delving Deeper
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| Diet[10] was the name of the assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire. The best remembered instance is undoubtedly the Diet of Worms[5], a meeting of the Holy Roman emperor Charles V’s imperial diet at Worms (a town in Germany) in 1521, at which Martin Luther was summoned to appear. Luther committed himself there to the cause of Protestant reform, and his teaching was formally condemned in the Edict of Worms. |
| 25a | Is old liberal country first to drop // segregation? (9) |
"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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"liberal " = L [member of a nearly extinct British political party]
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
However, a small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party) although it has never held a UK, Scottish or European parliamentary seat, though it has had representation on local councils.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
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The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
However, a small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party) although it has never held a UK, Scottish or European parliamentary seat, though it has had representation on local councils.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
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| 26a | English composer brought back tailless // bird (5) |
Sir Edward Elgar[5] (1857–1934) was an English composer. He is known particularly for the Enigma Variations (1899), the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius (1900), and for patriotic pieces such as the five Pomp and Circumstance marches (1901–30).
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K describes the "composer" asThe National Post Cryptic Crossword is a syndicated puzzle which was originally published in the British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph. The Toughie Crossword is a second, more difficult cryptic crossword that appears in The Daily Telegraph from Tuesday to Friday. One of the setters of the Friday Toughie is John Henderson who uses the pseudonym Elgar for these puzzles.a musical composer (or a composer of Friday Toughies).  |
| 27a | Wanting // massaging, by the sound of it (7) |
| 28a | Untrustworthy // American president primarily in the grip of extreme body of followers (7) |
The surface reading of this clue deserves an award of merit!
Down
| 1d | Poet/'s/ proposal (6) |
Sir Andrew Motion[5] is an English poet, novelist, and biographer, who was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009.
| 2d | Pain/'s/ double before tips from golf expert (6) |
| 3d | True love's about receiving new // presents (10) |
Volunteer[5] (verb) is used in the sense of to say or suggest something without being asked.
| 4d | Son puts identifying labels on // animals (5) |
| 5d | Strong and independent -- a learner/'s/ promise (9) |
"independent " = I [politician with no party affiliation]
I[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the sense of a politician with no party affiliation.
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I[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the sense of a politician with no party affiliation.
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"learner " = L [driver under instruction]
The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.
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The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.
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| Automobile displaying an L-plate |
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| 6d | Make // wish to be topless (4) |
| 7d | Stirring // drink -- a sign of nerves? (8) |
Dram[5] is a Scottish term for a small drink of whiskey or other spirits ⇒
a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.
| 8d | Fantasising // about a Chinese dynasty at end of day (8) |
Ming[5] is the name of the dynasty that ruled China 1368–1644 founded by Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398).
| 13d | Nasty gasp and sneers -- // they're taken for a ride (10) |
| 15d | Drilling // holes in cog spinning with no energy (9) |
| 16d | Criminal is vain with no // occupation (8) |
| 17d | Six balls in cricket appear /to be/ struck (8) |
In cricket, an over[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.
| 19d | Individual // left to bandage burn? Just the opposite (6) |
The phrase "just the opposite" tells the solver to reverse the logic or meaning of the statement immediately preceding it. Doing so leads one to reinterpret the wordplay as "burn to bandage left".
| 20d | Plan // where camper will go? (6) |
| 23d | Releases // five blokes -- good to be free (5) |
| 24d | Alcoholic drink // has a kick, to an extent (4) |
Saki[5,10] is a variant spelling of sake[5,10], a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice, traditionally drunk warm in small porcelain cups.
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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