Saturday, July 30, 2022

Saturday, July 30, 2022 — All Bases Covered (NP 220730)

Introduction

The consensus appears to be that today's National Post Cryptic Crossword from Cox & Rathvon (NP 220730) is a rather gentle exercise appropriate for a hot summer day.

The puzzle will be posted on the blog on Saturday, August 6, 2022.

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

Symbols and Markup Conventions
  •  "*" - anagram
  • "~" - sounds like
  • "<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed
  • "( )" - encloses contained letters
  • "_" - replaces letters that have been deleted
  •  "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Evergreens close around lake // when the sun appears (5,5)

FIRS|T (L)IGHT — FIRS (evergreens) + TIGHT (close) containing (around) L(ake)

6a White meat // hit loudly (4)

W|HAM — W(hite) + HAM (meat)

9a Like a saint, // always dressed in scarlet (7)

R(EVER)ED — EVER (always) contained in (dressed in) RED (scarlet)

10a African // jogged, carrying stick (7)

R(WAND)AN — RAN (jogged) containing (carrying) WAND (stick)

12a Go a-courting // without love (3)

WO|O — WO (without) + O (love; nil score in tennis)

13a Upper level // Conservative going after ticks? (6,5)

SECOND S|TORY — TORY (Conservative) following (going after) SECONDS (ticks [of a timepiece])

For the most part Cox and Rathvon take care to use Canadian spellings; however, here a US spelling has crept in. Story is the US spelling of storey.

14a Lot item, if adjusted, // repeating theme (9)

LEITMOTIF* — anagram of (adjusted) LOT ITEM IF

17a Talk-show host O’Donnell // got up around one (5)

ROS(I)E — ROSE (got up) containing (about) I ([Roman numeral] one)

While Rosie O'Donnell was once a talk show host, I don't believe she has hosted one in the last eight years.

19a Glacial ice // worries returning (5)

SERAC< — reversal of (returning) CARES (worries)

21a Make health resorts help // U.S.A. author (3,6)

DO|S PAS|SOS — DO (make) + SPAS (health resorts) + SOS (help)

John Dos Passos[5] (1896–1970) was an American novelist, chiefly known for his portrayal of American life in such novels as Manhattan Transfer (1925) and USA (1938).

23a He or she // drops hint re stranger (5,6)

{THIRD PERSON}* — anagram of (stranger) DROPS HINT RE

26a False report // essential to aliens (3)

_LIE_ — hidden in (essential to) aLIEns

27a Frozen princess keeps ten // rabbit ears (7)

AN(TEN)NA — ANNA (Frozen princess) containing (keeps) TEN (†)

Anna, Princess of Arendelle[7] is a character who appears in the Disney animated film Frozen.

28a Gradually build up // a cold Greek island (7)

A|C|CRETE — A (†) + C(old) + CRETE (Greek island)

29a Trim the coat off // fruit audibly (4)

PARE~ — sounds like (audibly) PEAR (fruit)

30a Big motorcycle carrying nice mom wildly // back to school event? (10)

HO(MECOMIN*)G — HOG (big motorcycle) containing (carrying) anagram of (wildly) NICE MOM

Down

1d Visually appealing, Orson said // goodbyes (9)

FAREWELLS — sounds like (said) {FAIR (visually appealing) + WELLES (Orson; American film director and actor Orson Welles[5])

2d In bar, a violinist // noodles (7)

_R|A|VIOLI_ — hidden in (in) baR A VIOLInist

3d Wears out // important parts of a car (5)

TIRES — double definition

4d Shown // article, charged outside (9)

INDIC(A)TED — INDICTED (charged) containing (outside) A ([indefinite] article)

5d That woman’s riding // large wading bird (5)

HER|ON — HER (that woman's) + ON (riding)

7d Ugly // ring stuck in skin by us (7)

HIDE(O)US — O ([letter that looks like a] ring) contained in (stuck in) {HIDE (skin) + US (†)}

8d Single among my // wallet contents (5)

M(ONE)Y — ONE (single) contained in (among) MY (†)

11d Oz ignoring a large // European country (7)

AUST||RIA — AUSTR[A|L]IA (Oz) discarding (ignoring) {A (†) + L(arge)}

15d Alexander’s country // club professor (7)

MACE|DON — MACE (club) + DON ([British] professor)

Macedon[5] (another name for Macedonia) was an ancient country in south-eastern Europe, north of Greece. In classical times it was a kingdom that became a world power under Philip II and Alexander the Great. The region is now divided between Greece, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia.

16d Resolved clashes if // measuring device for anglers (4,5)

{FISH SCALE}* — anagram of (resolved) CLASHES IF

18d Segregate abstract // artwork that’s hidden? (6,3)

{EASTER EGG}* — anagram of (abstract) SEGREGATE

An Easter egg[3] is a hidden message or feature, as in a video game or DVD.

20d Lineup maintaining I // make merry (7)

RO(I)STER — ROSTER (lineup) containing (maintaining) I (†)

22d New Israeli // composer jealous of Mozart (7)

SALIERI* — anagram of (new) ISRAELI

Antonio Salieri[5] (1750–1825) was an Italian composer. His output includes over forty operas and four oratorios. Salieri lived in Vienna and taught Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt. He was hostile to Mozart, whom he considered his rival, but a rumour that he poisoned him is now thought to be without foundation.

23d Bum // ride in a city park (5)

TRAM|P — TRAM (ride in a city) + P(ark)

24d Period of time for // Calliope’s sister (5)

ERA|TO — ERA (period of time) + TO (for)

For[10] is a synonym of to in the sense of in the direction of ⇒ traffic jams heading for the coast.

In Greek and Roman mythology, the Muses[5] are the nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences. The Muses are generally listed as Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Euterpe (flute playing and lyric poetry), Terpsichore (choral dancing and song), Erato (lyre playing and lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Thalia (comedy and light verse), Polyhymnia (hymns, and later mime), and Urania (astronomy).

25d Some banana-chocolate // chip (5)

_NA|CHO_ — hidden in (some) banaNA-CHOcolate

Epilogue

As readers suggest in their comments, the 6a of bat meeting ball precedes a circuit of the bases (1a, 13a, 23a and 30a) in this puzzle with a baseball 14a.


References

Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following symbols. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.

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

Hex Cryptic Crossword — NP 220723 (Cox and Rathvon)

Introduction

Copyright © 2022 Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon,
used with permission
This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon
was published in the National Post on Saturday, July 23, 2022. You can find a full review of the puzzle at Saturday, July 23, 2022 — Flip a Coin (NP 220723).

Your comments—whether they be with regard to the puzzle or the blog—are always welcome. However, I suggest you post comments pertaining to the puzzle on the review of the puzzle in order to keep all such comments in one place.

Accessing the puzzle
How to print the puzzle

The items in bold text as well as the image of the puzzle are links. You can open either a PDF or JPG version of the puzzle in a browser window by clicking on "This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon" or the puzzle image respectively. Either of these can be printed using your standard browser print controls.

Electronic version

An electronic version of the puzzle in PUZ format may be available on The Puzzler (and other cryptic crosswords) Facebook group. A Facebook account is needed to access the file and compatible crossword puzzle software is necessary to display and solve the puzzle.

Signing off for today — Falcon

Friday, July 29, 2022

Friday, July 29, 2022 — DT 29947


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29947
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Setter
Unknown
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29947]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K
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

Introduction

The setter of this puzzle has employed several words in unfamiliar ways. I still have not reconciled myself to one of these usages.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Dock sale almost returned small // sailor's weapon? (7)

The indicator "almost" is a direction to discard the final letter of a word in the fodder.

" small " = S[5] [clothing size]

5a Journalists and their boss // campaigned (7)

9a Leaders leaving pub to eat // something in the main? (1-4)

The indicator "leaders leaving" is a direction to discard the initial letters of three words in the fodder.

The main[5] is an archaic or literary term for the open ocean.

10a Awful // beggars regularly ignored, for example, with debts (9)

The indicator "regularly ignored" is a direction to discard a regular sequence of letters from a word in the fodder.

* A regular sequence is almost always a sequence consisting of every second letter — which might be either the odd numbered letters (the sequence starting with the first letter in the fodder) or the even numbered letters (the sequence starting with the second letter in the fodder). As is customarily the case, the setter does not specify which sequence is needed – something we must figure out by trial and error.

11a Trendy, fine male wearing formal clothing // ahead of schedule (2,4,4)

" male " = M [m or m.[2]]

12a Artist/'s/ day with boxer (4)

" day " = D [d[2]]

Muhammad Ali[5] is an American boxer; born Cassius Marcellus Clay. He won the world heavyweight title in 1964, 1974, and 1978, becoming the only boxer to be world champion three times.



Salvador Dalí[5] (1904–1989) was a Spanish painter. (show more )

A surrealist, he portrayed dream images with almost photographic realism against backgrounds of arid Catalan landscapes. Dalí also collaborated with Buñuel in the production of the film Un Chien andalou (1928). Notable works: The Persistence of Memory (1931).

hide

14a Convinced Parisian he holds a // secret (12)

" Parisian he " = IL [il[8]; French word for 'he']

18a Verify // gold teeth? I can't, unfortunately (12)

" gold " = AU [Au[5]; chemical symbol (from Latin aurum)]

21aSome opera I'd appreciated? (4)

From my perspective, the entire clue constitutes the wordplay in which a precise definition is embedded. I admit one could follow Mr K's lead and consider the entire clue to be the definition. However, I have not done so as I feel it adds nothing of substance to the definition.

Aida[7] is an opera by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901). Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it premièred in Cairo in 1871.

22a Cut of meat remains // tricky to eat with these? (10)

25a At sea on certain // vessel (9)

26a Animal // hospital with answer about hunger (5)

"hospital " = H [symbol used on street signs]


H is a symbol for 'hospital' used on street signs.

hide

" answer " = A[1]

27a Bad seaside // condition (7)

28a German city church/'s/ central part (7)

Essen[5] is an industrial city in the Ruhr valley, in northwestern Germany.

"church " = CE [Church of England]

The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.

hide

Down

1d Relative /from/ America swallowing mint? On the contrary (6)

The phrase "on the contrary" is an inverted logic indicator. (show more )

An inverted logic indicator tells the solver to invert (or reverse) the logic or meaning of the statement immediately preceding it. Doing so leads one to reinterpret the wordplay as "mint swallowing America".

hide

Coin[5] means to make (coins) by stamping metal ⇒ guineas and half-guineas were coined.

2d First of the wild // animals might graze from this (6)

The indicator "first of" is a direction to use the initial letter of a word in the fodder.

3dNo star more fantastic for one? (10)

I see the entire clue as a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded. Unlike 21a, it would be virtually impossible to solve the present clue without taking into consideration information provided by its first part.

4d Panic /from/ wife stuck in chair (5)

" wife " = W [w[2]; genealogy term]

5dAid camper's wound? I might (9)

Another instance where the entire clue is a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded.

6d So // try supporting the Queen (4)

"the Queen " = ER[5] [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 spelled 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.

hide

7d Koala is shot crossing middle of private // land (8)

The indicator "middle of" is a direction to use the letter that forms the middle or core of a word in the fodder.

Slovakia is a country in central Europe. (show more )

Slovakia was dominated by Hungary until it declared independence in 1918 and united with the Czech-speaking areas of Bohemia and Moravia to form Czechoslovakia. The eastern of the two constituent republics of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia became independent on the partition of that country on 1 January 1993. It joined NATO and the EU in 2004.

hide

8d Authority lacking in // one who follows (8)

For the life of me, I could not see how authority and discipline would be synonyms. I was able to find a website Authority vs Discipline – What's the difference? that explains:

"As nouns the difference between authority and discipline is that authority is (uncountable) the power to enforce rules or give orders while discipline is a controlled behaviour; self-control."

So it seems that authority is externally imposed control and discipline is self-control. While far from satisfying, it is the best explanation I can find.

13dWhat one might be after visiting the theatre -- or a comedy show (2,8)

15d Big gamble? // Not likely! (3,6)

16d Level-headed // criminal carries weapon (8)

17d Second time university undermines // undergraduates? (8)

" second " = S [s[2]; measure of time]

" time " = T [t[1]; symbol used in physics]

" university " = U [(U or U.)[1]]

I believe undermine and dent are likely synonyms in a figurative sense, as in  undermine/dent one's reputation.

19d Loose rocks put on knight/'s/ shield (6)

" knight " = N[2] [chess notation (N is used for kNight as K is used for King)]

20d European nation/'s/ assets (6)

" European " = E[2]

23d Shilling kept in clean // wallet (5)

In the British currency system used prior to the introduction of the current decimal currency system in 1971, a shilling[5] (abbreviation s[5]) was a coin and monetary unit equal to one twentieth of a pound or twelve pence.

24d Gossip comes up with a // story (4)


References

Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following symbols. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.

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

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Thursday, July 28, 2022 — DT 29946


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29946
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, March 28, 2022
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott)
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29946]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Falcon
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

Introduction

Based on the difficulty rating I gave this puzzle when I reviewed it for Big Dave's Crossword Blog in March, I found it a bit more challenging then than I found it on the second solve.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Dramatist /may be/ cross with end of scene being axed (7)

Ben Travers[7] (1886–1980) was an English writer. His output includes more than 20 plays, 30 screenplays, 5 novels, and 3 volumes of memoirs.

5a Stuff cut short /in/ enclosed field (7)

9aSlots in here? (9,6)

Amusement arcade[5] is a British term for an indoor area containing coin-operated game machines.

10a Depressed, // given food at college (3,2)

Up[5] is a British term meaning at or to a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge ⇒ they were up at Cambridge about the same time.

11a Like a ring binder, // unfastened, lying by table extension? (5-4)

12a Change some short fancy // dress (9)

The indicator "short" is a direction to remove the final letter of a word in the fodder.



A cheongsam[5] (also cheong-sam[2]) is a straight, close-fitting silk dress with a high neck, short sleeves, and a slit skirt, worn traditionally by Chinese and Indonesian women.

14a Frequent // search across area (5)

" area " = A[2] [geometry term]

15a Very very much, // up to this point (2,3)

16a Funny money flooding bars? // Certainly not (2,2,5)

18a Some upset eating East European // dishes (9)

Lett[5] is an old-fashioned term for Latvian*.

* A Latvian[5] is a native or inhabitant of Latvia[5], a country on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania. (show more )

Latvia was annexed by Russia in the 18th century after periods of Polish and Swedish rule. It was proclaimed an independent republic in 1918, but in 1940 was occupied by Soviet forces and incorporated into the USSR as a constituent republic. In 1991, on the break-up of the Soviet Union, Latvia became an independent republic once again.

hide

21a Adult left with wrong // LP (5)

"adult " = A [former British film classification]

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

" left " = L [l[2]]

22a Argue only devils foolishly // play with fire (4,11)

23a Book // put to one side (7)

24a Glad // last in camp rented out (7)

The indicator "last in" is a direction to use the final letter of a word in the fodder.

Down

1d Freight // trade? (7)

2d One who's highly strung, // nun observed flea jumping (1,6,2,6)

3d Organ key/'s/ quite something (3-6)

4d Son in good health? // Wonderful (5)

" son " = S [s[5]; genealogy term]

5dChap heading for a breakdown, perhaps (9)

Patrolman[5] is a British term for a man employed to patrol an area to help motorists in difficulty*.

* that is, to provide roadside assistance to those experiencing a mechanical breakdown or other problem

6d Group's leader cutting dreadful // sad song (5)

The indicator "leader" is a direction to use the initial letter of a word in the fodder.

7d Bulgarians are so bubbly, // all the time (2,1,7,5)

8d Hold suitable // programme of exercises (4,3)

Keep fit[2] (or keep-fit[10]) is a series or system of exercises intended to improve the circulation and respiratory system, suppleness and stamina, etc. ⇒ Football and volleyball are now the most popular sports in the club and keep-fit is another important activity that is organised.[a]


[a] Cambridge Dictionary

13d Material /in/ replacement carriage (9)

14d A large individual to follow in // Christmas film (4,5)

" large " = L[5] [clothing size]



Home Alone[7] is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film about a boy who defends his suburban Chicago home from burglars after his family accidentally leaves him behind on their Christmas vacation to Paris.

15d Special tanker? // This may give the game away (7)

" special " = SP [sp.[2]]

17d Dog /might be/ trained someday (7)

A Samoyed[5] is a dog of a white Arctic breed.

19d Wife leaving joiner /for/ church official (5)

" wife " = W [w[2]; genealogy term]

The setter creates misdirection by using joiner in a whimsical sense* denoting someone who joins pieces of metal together.

* In reality, joiner[5] is a mainly British term for a person who constructs the wooden components of a building, such as stairs, doors, and door and window frames.



In certain Protestant Churches, an elder[10] is a lay official having teaching, pastoral, or administrative functions.

20d Difficult // stage round middle of September (5)

The indicator "middle of" is a direction to use the letter that forms the middle or core of a word in the fodder.


References

Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following symbols. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.

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

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 — DT 29945


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29945
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Setter
Chalicea (Shirley Curran)
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29945 – Hints]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29945 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Tilsit (Hints)
Rahmat Ali (Review)
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
As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.

Introduction

"Saturday puzzles" are usually among the least difficult of the week. Nevertheless, many British solvers felt this one was a bit more challenging than usual.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

4a Angry about university recruitment, essentially, following good // financial gift (8)

Ratty[5] is an informal British term meaning bad-tempered and irritable ⇒ I was a bit ratty with the children.

" university " = U [(U or U.)[1]]

The indicator "essentially" is a direction to use the letter that forms the essence or core of a word in the fodder.

" good " = G [(g or g.)[1]; a grade of numismatic coin perhaps]

What did he say?
In his hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit describes part of the wordplay as a word meaning cross or tetchy.
{content}

Oops!
There is an error in Rahmat Ali's explanaation of this clue on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. The core of the word "RECRU[I]TMENT" is the single letter "I" (not the two letters "IT" as he indicates). The letter "T" is provided by the second "T" in "RATTY".

In this type of clue, one must invariably delete an equal number of letters (in this case, five) from either side of the core. For other examples of the use of this device, see 11a and 22d.

8a Vitality /of/ black feline (6)

" black " = B[5] [a grade of pencil lead]

Ounce[5] is another term for snow leopard[5], a rare large cat which has pale grey fur patterned with dark blotches and rings, living in the Altai mountains, Hindu Kush, and Himalayas.

9a Irritating, // varying rise in volume (8)

10a Organised isle ends // unemployment (8)

11a Ceremony /with/ religious song lacking special mysticism at heart (6)

" special " = SP [sp.[2]]

The indicator "at heart" is a direction to use the letter that forms the heart or core of a word in the fodder.

12a Element /of/ regret over narcotic (8)

Europium[5] (symbol Eu) is the chemical element of atomic number 63, a soft silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series. Europium oxide is used with yttrium oxide as a red phosphor in colour television screens.

13a Impressive // English politician has curtailed time in charge (8)

" English " = E[2]

" politician " = MP[5] [Member of Parliament]

" time " = T [t[1]; symbol used in physics]

" in charge " = IC [i/c[2]]

The indicator "curtailed" is a direction to remove the final letter of a word in the fodder.

16a Eccentric Nineties // physicist (8)

Albert Einstein[5] (1879–1955) was a German-born American theoretical physicist, founder of the special and general theories of relativity. His name has become synonymous with genius ⇒ you won't have to be an Einstein to use it. (show more )

Einstein is often regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. In 1905 he published his special theory of relativity and in 1915 he succeeded in incorporating gravitation in his general theory of relativity, which was vindicated when one of its predictions was observed during the solar eclipse of 1919. However, Einstein searched without success for a unified field theory embracing electromagnetism, gravitation, relativity, and quantum mechanics. He influenced the decision to build an atom bomb but after the war he spoke out passionately against nuclear weapons.

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19a Cherish // sinner, he changed (8)

21a Part-time worker recalled the Spanish // religious building (6)

"the Spanish " = EL [Spanish definite article]

In Spanish, the masculine singular form of the definite article is el[8].

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23aManufacturer adding barrels to stocks (8)

A barrel[5] is a tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen ⇒ a gun barrel.

A stock[5] is the part of a rifle or other firearm to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, held against one's shoulder when firing the gun.

24a Dreadful toccatas // with each note disconnected (8)

Staccato[5] is a music term denoting that a piece of music is to be performed with each note sharply detached or separated from the others.

Scratching the Surface
A toccata[5] is A musical composition for a keyboard instrument designed to exhibit the performer's touch and technique.

25a Unaccompanied // student merely goes round Spain (6)

Tilsit's hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog would have been more accurate had he said "a synonym for the word merely" rather than " the word merely".

"student " = 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.

Automobile displaying an L-plate

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"Spain " = E [IVR code]

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Spain is E*[5] (from Spanish España).

Spanish Licence Plate Format
(The IVR code is on the left below the EU flag emblem)

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26a Abuse // whisky on a trip, initially (8)

Malt[5] is short for malt whisky.

The indicator "initially" is a direction to use the initial letter of a word in the fodder.

Down

1d Rough // cover left on casing of uranium (7)

" left " = L [l[2]]

The indicator "casing of" is a direction to use the initial and final letters of a word in the fodder.



Rough[5] (noun) is a British term meaning a disreputable and violent person ⇒ the rear of the column was attacked by roughs.

2d Social creature runs away with beloved // animals (9)

"social creature " = ANT

The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.

A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.

In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.

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3d The old folk, one // a Gulf inhabitant (6)

Ye[5] is a pseudo-archaic term for the Ye Olde Cock Tavern. The character "y" in this word was originally not the letter "y" in the modern English alphabet but a variant representation of the Old English and Icelandic letter thorn (þ or Þ). (show more )

The word 'ye' in this sense was originally a graphic variant of 'the' rather than an alternative spelling.

Thorn[5] is an Old English and Icelandic runic letter, þ or Þ, representing the dental fricatives ð and θ. In English it was eventually superseded by the digraph th — and thus þe (the old spelling of 'the') became the modern spelling 'the'.

In late Middle English þ (thorn) came to be written identically with y, resulting in þe (the) being written ye. This spelling (usually ye*) was kept as a convenient abbreviation in handwriting down to the 19th century, and in printers' types during the 15th and 16th centuries. It was never pronounced as ‘yee’ in the past, but this is the pronunciation used today.

* I interpret the phrase "usually ye" to mean that the word was customarily not capitalized because the character "y" is not being used to represent the letter "y" in the modern English alphabet but rather as a graphic variant of thorn. Thus, in bygone days, the name of the drinking establishment above would presumably have been written ye Olde Cock Tavern (and pronounced "the old cock tavern").

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" one " = I[2] [Roman numeral]



A Yemeni[5] is a native or inhabitant of Yemen*, or a person of Yemeni descent.

* Yemen[5] is a country in the south and south-west of the Arabian peninsula. (show more )

An Islamic country since the mid 7th century, Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century. It came under increasing British influence in the 19th century, and the port of Aden was developed as a British military base. After the Second World War civil war between royalist and republican forces ended with British withdrawal and the partition of the country (1967). South Yemen declared itself independent as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, the North becoming the Yemen Arab Republic. In 1990 the countries reunited to form the Republic of Yemen; in 1994 the South briefly seceded but was defeated in a short civil war.

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4dRile person by acquiring their browser? (3,8,4)

I see the entire clue as a cryptic definition in which a precise definition is embedded.

5d Supplies of aid /from/ harassed prison-guard lacking working gun (8)

6d Worry // mates publicly climbing houses (5)

7d Frenzy almost following reduction of time /for/ orchestral instruments (7)

The indicator "almost" is a direction to remove the final letter of the word suggested by a word in the fodder.

The indicator "reduction of" is a direction to remove the final letter of a word in the fodder.



Timpani[5] (also spelled tympani) is another name for kettledrums, especially when played by one musician in an orchestra.

* A kettledrum[5] is a large drum shaped like a bowl, with a membrane adjustable for tension (and so pitch) stretched across.

14d Out of consideration employees finally quit // living accommodation (9)

The indicator "finally" is a direction to use the final letter of a word in the fodder.

15d Unruffled involving publicity /for/ lover's song, maybe (8)

17d Lack of movement // as one European boards broken-down train (7)

The " one " from 3d performs an encore.

" European " = E[2]

18d Fit // in cubicle (7)

20d Record // section of confusing lecture (6)

22d Ornament with little loops /in/ centre of hand-picked baby bed (5)

The indicator "centre of" is a direction to use the letters that form the centre or core of a word in the fodder.

Cot[5] is the British name for a crib[5], a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child.



Picot denotes a small loop or series of small loops of twisted thread in lace or embroidery, typically decorating the border of a fabric.


References

Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following symbols. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.

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