Saturday, January 27, 2018 — A Day at the Opera

Introduction

Before the fat lady sang, today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon caused a bit of head scratching.

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

Legend:	"*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
	"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted; "†" explicit in the clue
	Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions — including whimsical and vague definitions — are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).

Across

1a   In Tosca, strange // deeds (7)

ACTIONS* — anagram (strange) of IN TOSCA

Tosca^[7] is an opera by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) that was first performed in 1900.

5a   Anger consuming tenor/’s/ seducer (7)

TEMP(T)ER — TEMPER (anger) containing (consuming) T (tenor; abbrev.)

9a   Criminal // playing clarinets (9)

LARCENIST* — anagram (playing) of CLARINETS

10a   Roman goddess/’s/ string of performances heard (5)

CERES~ — sounds like (heard) SERIES (string of performances)

In Roman mythology, Ceres^[5] is the goddess of agriculture.

11a   New agent got drummer // work in Wagner’s Ring Cycle (15)

GOTTERDAMMERUNG* — anagram (new) of AGENT GOT DRUMMER

Richard Wagner^[5] (1813–1883) was a German composer. He developed an operatic genre which he called music drama, synthesizing music, drama, verse, legend, and spectacle. Notable works: The Flying Dutchman (opera, 1841), Der Ring des Nibelungen (a cycle of four operas, 1847–74), Tristan and Isolde (music drama, 1859), and the Siegfried Idyll (1870).

In German mythology, Götterdämmerung^[5] denotes the downfall of the gods. The word (which, in German, literally means 'twilight of the gods') is the title of the last opera in Wagner's Ring cycle.

12a   On the other hand, trace // circle (5)

OR|BIT — OR (on the other hand) + BIT (trace; small quantity)

14a   Conspiring // Peruvian calls in the dark (2,7)

IN CA|HOOTS — INCA ([ancient] Peruvian) + HOOTS (calls in the dark; sounds made by owls)

An Inca^[5] is a member of a South American Indian people who were living in the central Andes before the Spanish conquest.

16a   Draw attention to // big belly in snub (9)

S(POT)LIGHT — POT (big belly) contained in (in) SLIGHT (snub)

18a   Noodles // gone by one (5)

PAST|A — PAST (gone by) + A (one)

20a   Dancing rumba, fat lady met // Puccini title character (6,9)

{MADAMA BUTTERFLY}* — anagram (dancing) of RUMBA FAT LADY MET

Giacomo Puccini^[5] (1858–1924) was an Italian composer. Puccini’s sense of the dramatic, gift for melody, and skilful use of the orchestra have contributed to his enduring popularity. Notable operas: La Bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), and Madama Butterfly (1904).

Scratching the Surface

It ain't over till the fat lady sings[7] is a colloquialism which is often used as a proverb. It means that one should not presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress. The phrase is generally understood to be referencing the stereotypically overweight sopranos of the opera. The imagery of Richard Wagner's opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen and its last part, Götterdämmerung, is typically the one used in depictions accompanying reference to the phrase. The "fat lady" is the valkyrie Brünnhilde, who is traditionally presented as a very buxom lady with horned helmet, spear and round shield (although Amalie Materna played Brünnhilde during Wagner's lifetime (1876) with a winged helmet). Her farewell scene lasts almost twenty minutes and leads directly to the finale of the whole Ring Cycle. As Götterdämmerung is about the end of the world (or at least the world of the Norse gods), in a very significant way "it is [all] over when the fat lady sings."

23a   Stretchy material // forming part of ugly cravat (5)

LY|CRA — hidden in (forming part of) ugLY CRAvat

24a   Old reptiles // wandering in U.S. roads (9)

DINOSAURS* — anagram (wandering) of IN US ROADS

25a   Live around uranium // tailings, maybe (7)

RESID(U)E — RESIDE (live) containing (around) U ([symbol for the chemical element] uranium)

26a   Hints about traitor // priests (7)

CU(RAT)ES — CUES (hints) containing (about) RAT (traitor)

Down

1d   Legal or otherwise, // brisk passage (7)

ALLEGRO* — anagram (otherwise) of LEGAL OR

Allegro^[5] denotes a movement, passage, or composition marked to be performed at a brisk speed.

2d   Run carrying a // mysterious pack (5)

T(A)ROT — TROT (run) containing (carrying) A (†)

3d   Plain surrounding each // gorge (7)

OVER(EA)T — OVERT (plain) containing (surrounding) EA (each)

4d   Cast, taking breath, /is/ cheating (9)

S(WIND)LING — SLING (cast) containing (taking) WIND (breath)

5d   A mutt disturbed // jazz pianist (5)

TATUM* — anagram (disturbed) of A MUTT

Art Tatum^[5] (1910–1956) was an American jazz pianist; full name Arthur Tatum. Born with cataracts in both eyes, he was almost completely blind. He became famous in the 1930s for his solo and trio work.

6d   Verdi opera // physicist interrupted by chance (7)

MAC(BET)H — MACH (physicist) containing (interrupted by) BET (chance)

Ernst Mach^[5] (1838–1916) was an Austrian physicist and philosopher of science. He did important work on aerodynamics, while his writings inspired the logical positivist philosophers of the 1920s and influenced scientists such as Einstein and Niels Bohr. The Mach number^* is named after him.

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^* Mach^[5] (also Mach number) is the ratio of the speed of a body to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. It is often used with a numeral (as Mach 1, Mach 2, etc.) to indicate the speed of sound, twice the speed of sound, etc.

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Giuseppe Verdi^[5] (1813–1901) was an Italian composer. His many operas, such as La Traviata (1853), Aida (1871), and Otello (1887), emphasize the dramatic element, treating personal stories on a heroic scale and often against backgrounds that reflect his political interests. Verdi is also famous for his Requiem (1874).

Macbeth^[5] is an opera composed by Verdi based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name that was first performed in 1847.

7d   Painful // rout rewritten in “Ring” (9)

TOR(TURO)*US — anagram (rewritten) of ROUT contained in (in) TORUS (ring)

Scratching the Surface
I am sure you noticed that the setters have capitalized "Ring" to suggest Wagner's Ring cycle [see 11a].

8d   Gives up /and/ extends a contract (2-5)

RE-SIGNS — had the numeration been (7), the solution would denote "gives up"

Although I have seen variations on this clue many times before, I believe this is the first time that I have seen the solution numerated as (2-5).

13d   Sticks // name next to document in written records (9)

BOO(N|DOC)KS — {N (name; abbrev.) + (next to) DOC (document; abbrev.)} contained in (in) BOOKS (written records)

15d   Unfeeling // dude with a fizzy drink (9)

CAT|A|TONIC — CAT (dude) + (with) A (†) + TONIC (fizzy drink)

16d   Soprano with bigger // box of candy, perhaps (7)

S|AMPLER — S (soprano) + (with) AMPLER (bigger)

17d   Business grad embraced by noble // northern Italian (7)

LO(MBA)RD — MBA (business grad) contained in (embraced by) LORD (noble)

A Lombard^[5] is a native of Lombardy in northern Italy^*.

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^* The Lombards^[5] were a Germanic people who invaded Italy in the 6th century.

18d   Laundry worker // engaged in Ypres service (7)

_PRES|SER_ — hidden in (engaged in) YPRES SERvice

Scratching the Surface

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing[7] is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown. Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium's freedom. Hence every evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), buglers from the local fire brigade close the road which passes under the memorial and sound the "Last Post". Except for the occupation by the Germans in World War II when the daily ceremony was conducted at Brookwood Military Cemetery, in Surrey, England, this ceremony has been carried on uninterrupted since 2 July 1928. On the evening that Polish forces liberated Ypres in the Second World War, the ceremony was resumed at the Menin Gate despite the fact that heavy fighting was still taking place in other parts of the town. Three years ago, I had the privilege of attending this service during a tour of World War 1 and World War II battlefields in Europe.

19d   Donkeys keeping to the side of // chasms (7)

A(BY)SSES — ASSES (donkeys) containing (keeping) BY (to the side of)

21d   Shy, striped mammal/’s/ distinctive sign (5)

BADGE_ — BADGE[R] (striped mammal) with the final letter deleted (the solution being one R shy of BADGER)

22d   Our group gets into fleshy // opera (5)

FA(US)T — US (our group) contained in (gets into) FAT (fleshy)

Faust^[7] is a grand opera by French composer Charles Gounod (1818–1893) loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part One. The opera was first performed in 1859.

Epilogue

Identifying a theme was easy today as the puzzle is replete with references to operas, composers, and performers. The title is a tip of the hat to the Marx Brothers who can now take over the opera house for the night.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford 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)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Friday, January 26, 2018 — DT 28559

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28559
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, October 16, 2017
Setter Rufus (Roger Squires)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28559]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Miffypops
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

If you visit Big Dave's Crossword Blog, you will find Miffypops in a bit of a testy mood today. Can't be arsed^[5] is vulgar British slang denoting that one does not want to do something due to having no interest in or enthusiasm for it. Despite the comment, he seems to have done a fine job on his review.

I strongly recommend that you watch the Killard House School Choir video that Miffypops has inserted into his review. This school is located in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland. The performance is amazing — especially when you consider that this school provides education for children with special educational needs including Moderate Learning Difficulties, Speech and Language Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

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.

Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).

Across

1a   Wild parrot, // bird of prey (6)

4a   Includes /in/ shows of affection (8)

9a   Jack's posh way /appears/ ridiculous (6)

The entry for jack in The Chambers Dictionary would fill a page if it were not spread over parts of two pages. Among the definitions, one finds jack^[1] defined as (often with capital) a sailor. In the Royal Navy, according to Oxford Dictionaries, able seaman^[5] (abbreviation AB^[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman^[10] (also called able-bodied seaman) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills.

"posh" = U (show explanation )

In Britain, U^[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒ U manners.

The term, an abbreviation of  upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).

In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable). 

hide explanation

Pedantary Commentary
I am sure most readers of Miffypops' hint will recognize that the word "Jack's" is not plural — it's possessive.

10a   How a sale should be organised, // all things considered (2,1,5)

12a   Lugs, // body parts for hearing (4)

13a   Use a blade and cut down // tree (5)

Rowan is another name for the European mountain ash^[10] (Sorbus aucuparia), a rosaceous tree having clusters of small white flowers and bright red berries.

14a   Pointless search /for/ way through (4)

17a   Only just obtained freedom? (6,6)

Here — and throughout the puzzle — the setter uses a question mark to flag cryptic definition. However, not every question mark flags a cryptic definition and not every cryptic definition is flagged by a question mark.

20a   Possibly fall in late? Go /for/ punishment (12)

Scratching the Surface
Fall in[5] means to take one's place in a military formation ⇒ the soldiers fell in by the side of the road.

23a   Measure round a // highway (4)

The rod^[5] is a historical British unit of measure that can refer to either:

• a linear measure, especially for land, equal to 5 ½ yards (approximately 5.029 m)
• a square measure, especially for land, equal to 160th of an acre or 30 ¼ square yards (approximately 25.29 sq m)

What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops writes that the unit of measure in question is commonly used for allotments. Allotment[5] is a British term for a plot of land rented by an individual for growing vegetables or flowers. This term is also used in Canada — at least in Ottawa — although one would be more apt to hear it referred to here by the full version of the name, allotment garden[7].

24a   Clothing once /displayed by/ father in streets (5)

A spat^[5] (usually spats [as they are worn in pairs]) is a short cloth gaiter^* covering the instep and ankle.

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^* A gaiter^[5] (usually gaiters [for the same reason as above]) is a protective covering of cloth or leather for the ankle and lower leg ⇒ gaiters to keep snow out of your boots.

25a   The woman's love // champion (4)

"love" = O (show explanation )

In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love^[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒ love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.

Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).

hide explanation

28a   Rife, conceivably, // it spreads rapidly (8)

This clue is a reverse anagram. The solution (WILDFIRE) can be viewed as anagram indicator (WILD) and anagram fodder (FIRE) that produce the result "rife" which appears in the clue. The word "conceivably" in the wordplay is the reverse anagram indicator.

In a 'normal' clue, the wordplay appears in the clue and the result arising from the execution of the wordplay is found in the solution. For instance, in a clue of the anagram type, the anagram indicator (operator) and anagram fodder (the material on which the indicator operates) would appear in the clue and the result of performing the anagram operation would be found in the solution.

On the other hand, in a 'reverse anagram', this situation is reversed. The anagram indicator and fodder are found in the solution and the result of executing the anagram operation appears in the clue. This is not unlike the premise of the TV game show Jeopardy — where contestants are given the answer and must respond with a question. Here the solver is given the result of the anagram operation and must find the anagram indicator and fodder which would produce it.

Personally, I would much prefer to use the term 'inverse anagram' rather than 'reverse anagram' as this type of construct is analogous to the concept of inverse functions in mathematics. However, I have resigned myself to the fact that this idea is unlikely to find traction.

Plus ça change ...
Were one to think that the photo used by Miffypops to illustrate his review was of recent vintage, one would be mistaken. It was taken May 3, 2013 near Camarillo, California.

29a   A Titan out // to win (6)

Scratching the Surface

In Classical Greek mythology, the Titans and Titanesses[7] were members of the second order of divine beings, descending from the primordial deities and preceding the Olympian deities. Based on Mount Othrys, the Titans most famously included the first twelve children of the primordial Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Heaven). They were giant deities of incredible strength, who ruled during the legendary Golden Age, and also composed the first pantheon of Greek deities.

30a   Think again // about ship crossing rough seas (8)

On the Crosswordland seas, you will rarely go wrong in assuming that a ship is a steamship (abbreviation SS^[5]).

31a   A spell of horse-play? (6)

I either did not know or had forgotten the polo term.

Chukka^[5] is the British spelling (US chukker) for each of a number of periods (typically six, of 71/2 minutes each) into which play in a game of polo is divided.

Down

1d   Model creating // response (8)

As an anagram indicator, model^[5] (verb) means to fashion or shape (a three-dimensional figure or object) in a malleable material such as clay or wax ⇒ use the icing to model a house.

2d   Secretary's blade // that could open up a computer (8)

PA^[5] is an abbreviation used in Britain^* for personal assistant.

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^* It is the use of the abbreviation that is British, not the term itself. Even in North America, I don't think the abbreviation is entirely unheard of.

3d   /It's/ yours and mine, // of course (4)

The key parts of a clue are the wordplay and the definition. Sometimes they stand on their own and sometimes they require some supporting infrastructure — which usually takes the form of a link word or link phrase positioned between them. Occasionally, the supporting infrastructure will be found elsewhere in the clue. Such is the case today, where it comes at the beginning of the clue. Of course, we could rephrase the clue to put the supporting infrastructure back in its customary place at the middle of the clue:

• Of course /it [the solution] is/ yours and mine (4)

5d   What a bad summer will do? (12)

A summer^[1] is someone or something that does sums^*.

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^* I had supposed this sense of the word to be a whimsical invention of the setter, but it is found in The Chambers Dictionary as a noun corresponding to the verb sum.

6d   Disputes /in/ banks (4)

7d   Voices // so rich when blended (6)

8d   Boil, /or/ the spot on top (6)

11d   Swiss cantons or American states, maybe? (7,5)

This clue works for anyone who resides outside the borders of Switzerland or the USA. Fortunately, the setter chose not to include Canadian provinces on the list.

15d   Takes over // domestic vessels (5)

My knowledge of polo may be rusty, but I am on top of my game 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.

16d   Express // linking two points (5)

The word "linking" is a charade indicator as the solution involves "linking two points" (or the "linking [of] two points").

18d   Visible record of alternating current's limits (8)

My dictionaries fail to reach consensus on the definition of tidemark. The Chambers Dictionary, the Chamber's 21st Century Dictionary and Oxford Dictionaries define tidemark^[1,2,5] as a mark left or reached by the sea on a shore at the highest point of a tide. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary, the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary define tidemark^[3,4,10,11] as a line or mark on a shore indicating the highest or lowest level reached by the tide.

19d   It means one can't get off at night (8)

21d   Prize having been put up, // one picks the winning ticket (6)

22d   Each year, girl /makes/ Spanish dish (6)

Paella^[5] is a Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, etc., cooked and served in a large shallow pan.

26d   Amphibians, /with/ short feet going in two directions (4)

Eft^[5] is a dialect^* word for newt^[5], a small slender-bodied amphibian with lungs and a well-developed tail, typically spending its adult life on land and returning to water to breed.

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^* Oxford fails to specify any particular dialect. One might infer from Miffypops' observation in his review that it is the Crosswordland dialect.

27d   Justification for deciding to scratch (4)

Scratching the Surface
Scratch[5] (said of a competitor) means to withdraw from a competition ⇒ due to a knee injury she was forced to scratch from the race.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford 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)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Thursday, January 25, 2018 — DT 28558

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28558
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, October 14, 2017
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28558 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28558 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) crypticsue (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

Although in the end the puzzle did not prove to be overly difficult, I got off to a very slow start. My first clue solved was 25a which immediately set off the pangram^* alarm. Alas, it was not to be as the puzzle fell one L short of being a pangram.

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^* a puzzle in which every letter of the alphabet appears at least once in the solutions to the clues

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.

Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).

Across

1a   Troops // ordered to accept tackle (7)

What did he say?

In his hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Big Dave describes rig as some tackle or kit Tackle[5] is the equipment required for a task or sport ⇒ fishing tackle. Kit[5] can be: a set of articles or equipment needed for a specific purpose ⇒ a first-aid kit; a British term for a set of articles forming part of a soldier's equipment; or a set of all the parts needed to assemble something ⇒ an aircraft kit. Rig[5] is a device or piece of equipment designed for a particular purpose ⇒ a lighting rig.

A brigade^[5] is a subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of infantry battalions and/or other units and forming part of a division.

9a   Droning sound /of/ instant message when holding on (8)

"instant" = MO (show explanation )

Mo^[3,5] (abbreviation for moment) is an informal, British^[5] (or chiefly British^[3]) term for a short period of time ⇒ hang on a mo!.

hide explanation

10a   Flashy // fliers leading swimmers (7)

"fliers" = RAF (show explanation )

The Royal Air Force^[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).

hide explanation

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Raffish^[10] means tawdry, flashy, or vulgar.

11a   Most memorable experience // could be Helvellyn (4,4)

A double definition in which the second part is a definition by example.

High spot^[5] (or high point^[5]) denotes the most enjoyable or significant part of an experience or period of time ⇒ (i) the high spot of the tour was to be an audience with the Pope; (ii) the English lesson was the high point of the morning.

Personally, I am only familiar with the latter form of the expression.

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Helvellyn^[7], the third-highest point in England, is a mountain in the English Lake District.

12a   Article set out how /to become/ famous rock group? (3,3)

The Who^[7] are an English rock band that formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon.

13a   Bill promises to pay after repair, /being/ dishonest (10)

15a   Pavlova, perhaps, that gets sent back just the same (4)

The portion of the clue with the dashed underline is not a second, independent route to the solution but rather elaboration on the definition — telling us that the solution is a palindrome.

Anna Pavlova^[5] (1881–1931) was a  Russian dancer, resident in Britain from 1912; full name Anna Pavlovna Pavlova. Her highly acclaimed solo dance The Dying Swan was created for her by Michel Fokine in 1905. On settling in Britain she formed her own company.

Scratching the Surface
The surface reading evokes an image of a restaurant patron dissatisfied with the dessert that has been served. Pavlova[5] (named for the dancer) is a dessert consisting of a meringue base or shell filled with whipped cream and fruit.

16a   Scheme news boss // threw out (9)

21a   Wander /in/ said ancient city (4)

Rome^[5] is the capital of Italy, situated on the River Tiber about 25 km (16 miles) inland. Rome's history spans 28 centuries. While Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe.^[7]

22a   Person setting out on a task /as/ mortician (10)

24a   First to stand by unhappy // person that loves being cruel (6)

25a   Frantic /having/ refined novel, penning the last character (8)

27a   Need /to have/ verse in poetry replaced (7)

Note that crypticsue's explanation of the wordplay should read "V (verse) in an anagram (replaced) of POETRY".

As an anagram indicator, "replaced" is used in the sense of 'repositioned'.

28a   Preserve /offered by/ inns here for spreading (8)

29a   Someone on boat // beginning to sell fish (7)

A kipper^[5] is a herring or other fish that has been split open and cured by salting and drying it in the open air or in smoke.

---

A skipper^[5] is the captain of a ship or boat, especially a small trading or fishing vessel ⇒ the skipper and one other man were convicted of smuggling.

Behind the Picture

Big Dave illustrates his hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog with a photo of Captain Birdseye*[7], the advertising mascot for the Birds Eye frozen food brand founded by Clarence Birdseye. Appearing in numerous television and billboard commercials, he has been played or modeled by various actors and is generally depicted as a clean living, older sailor with a white beard, dressed in merchant naval uniform and with a seafaring accent. The mascot is a reference to the brand's extensive and well-known range of frozen seafood products, of which fish fingers is probably the most-widely known. Because the Birds Eye brand is marketed to families, many of the advertising campaigns feature Captain Birdseye as having a 'crew' composed mostly of children in the preteen to teenage age groups, encouraging brand loyalty from children and emphasizing to parents the convenience of serving the company's products. * In parts of Europe, the company's products are marketed under the Iglo brand and in those locations the mascot is known as Captain Iglo.

Down

2d   Getting to // feeling pain again (8)

A double definition in which the second definition is whimsical.

3d   Present coverage /in/ newspaper after US soldier stole (4,4)

The Financial Times^[7] (abbreviation FT) is a British international business newspaper that is printed on conspicuous salmon pink newsprint.

"US soldier" = GI (show explanation )

A GI^[5] is a private soldier in the US army ⇒ she went off with a GI during the war.

Contrary to popular belief, the term apparently is not an abbreviation for general infantryman, but rather derives from the term government (or general) issue (originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces).

hide explanation

In the cryptic reading of the clue, stole becomes a noun.

4d   Record on order -- keep /being/ inconvenience! (10)

"order" = OM (show explanation )

The Order of Merit^[7] (abbreviation OM^[5]) is a dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by King Edward VII, admission into the order remains the personal gift of its Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, and is limited to 24 living recipients at one time from these countries plus a limited number of honorary members. The current membership includes one Canadian (former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien).

hide explanation

A keep^[5] is the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge.

5d   In archipelago, big // dry area (4)

The Gobi Desert^[5] is a barren plateau of southern Mongolia and northern China.

6d   Barbarian in charge of // architectural style (6)

The Goths^[5] were a Germanic people that invaded the Roman Empire from the east between the 3rd and 5th centuries. The eastern division, the Ostrogoths, founded a kingdom in Italy, while the Visigoths went on to found one in Spain.

"in charge of" = IC (show explanation )

The abbreviation i/c^[5] can be short for either:

• (especially in military contexts) in charge of ⇒ the Quartermaster General is i/c rations
• in command ⇒ 2 i/c = second in command.

hide explanation

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Gothic^[5] is a style of architecture prevalent in western Europe in the 12th–16th centuries (and revived in the mid 18th to early 20th centuries), characterized by pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses, together with large windows and elaborate tracery.

7d   Case on which one takes a stand, so to speak (7)

8d   One looks down in the mouth when at work (7)

11d   Take notice of circling scruff limiting parking, /getting/ browbeaten (9)

Scruff^[3,4,11] denotes the nape or back of the neck.

"parking" = P

Scratching the Surface
Scruff[5] is an informal British term for a person with a dirty or untidy appearance.

14d   Sweet wine -- // it'll be felt later on (10)

Sweet^[5] is a British term for a sweet dish forming a course of a meal; in other words, a pudding^* or dessert.

Afters^[5] is an informal British term for the sweet course following the main course of a meal; or, in British parlance, pudding^* ⇒ there was apple pie for afters.

---

^* Whereas in North America, the term pudding^[5] denotes specifically a dessert with a soft or creamy consistency, in Britain the term pudding refers to either:

• a cooked sweet dish served after the main course of a meal [i.e., a dessert]; or 
• the dessert course of a meal ⇒ what’s for pudding?.

The terms dessert, pudding and afters are synonymous in Britain and the response to What’s for pudding? could well be Apple pie.

---

Hock^[5] is a British term for a dry white wine from the German Rhineland.

17d   Bring to light // boat having stopped short abruptly in the middle (6,2)

A dredger^[5] is a boat designed for dredging harbours or other bodies of water.

18d   Revolutionary test case /for/ music-maker (8)

19d   Having Elvis hairstyle, I will be knocked out by a // drunk (7)

Quiff^[10] is a British term for a prominent tuft of hair, especially one brushed up above the forehead.

---

Quaff^[2] is a literary term meaning to to drink eagerly or deeply.

20d   Unfavourable // notice with few lines (7)

23d   Run on guide to London or South -- // they're used for short cuts every morning (6)

"run" = R (show explanation )

On cricket scorecards [not to mention baseball scoreboards], the abbreviation R^[5] denotes run(s).

In cricket, a run^[5] is a unit of scoring achieved by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets, or awarded in some other circumstances.

hide explanation

Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd is the largest independent map publishing company in the UK, producing over 300 paper mapping publications, including the much loved London A-Z.

26d   Italian 11 Across // that erupts in Canterbury? (4)

The numeral and directional indicator "11 Across" is a cross reference indicator directing the solver to insert the solution to clue 11a in its place to complete the clue. The directional indicator is customarily included only in situations such as this where both Across and Down clues start in the light^* that is being referenced.

---

^* light-coloured cell in the grid

As a reversal indicator in a down clue, erupt is used in the sense of to to shoot up(ward) or flare up.

---

Mount Etna^[5] is a volcano in eastern Sicily, rising to 3,323 m (10,902 ft). It is the highest and most active volcano in Europe.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford 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)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 — DT 28557

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28557
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Friday, October 13, 2017
Setter Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28557]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Deep Threat
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

This weeks "hump day" puzzle was an end-of-week offering in the UK. On any day, it should not prove too difficult a 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.

Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).

Across

1a   Mountains around indicated -- avoid finally in that landing (10)

The phrase "in that" denotes 'in the foregoing', instructing us to insert the final letter of avoiD into what has been produced by the wordplay which precedes it.

6a   Support // location for holiday entertainment? (4)

Here and There

The British use the word holiday(s) where North Americans might say vacation[5]. Holiday[5,10] (often holidays) is a chiefly British term for a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation ⇒ (i) I spent my summer holidays on a farm; (ii) Fred was on holiday in Spain. According to British dictionaries, the usual US and Canadian term for such a break is vacation. However, I am accustomed to hearing the two terms used almost interchangeably — in much the same manner that we use fall and autumn interchangeably. This may not be the case in all parts of Canada, but I grew up in the Maritimes and have lived in Eastern Ontario for most of my life, both areas where British influence is particularly strong. In Britain, the word vacation[5] has a very specific meaning, a fixed holiday period between terms in universities and law courts ⇒ the Easter vacation. In North America, such a period might be called a break[7].

A Stroll on the Pier

Pleasure piers[7] were first built in Britain during the early 19th century with the earliest structure being the Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight, opened in 1814. At that time the introduction of the railways for the first time permitted mass tourism to dedicated seaside resorts. The large tidal ranges at many such resorts meant that for much of the day, the sea was not visible from dry land. The pleasure pier was the resorts' answer, permitting holidaymakers to promenade over and alongside the sea at all times. Providing a walkway out to sea, pleasure piers often include amusements and theatres as part of the attraction. The world's longest pleasure pier is at Southend-on-sea, Essex, and extends 1.3 miles (2.1 km) into the Thames estuary. Following the building of the world's first seaside pier at Ryde, the pier became fashionable at seaside resorts in England and Wales during the Victorian era, peaking in the 1860s with 22 being built in that decade. A symbol of the typical British seaside holiday, by 1914, more than 100 pleasure piers were located around the UK coast. In a 2006 UK poll, the public voted the seaside pier onto the list of icons of England.

9a   Exceptionally arty bairns, // a couple shining (6,4)

A binary star^[5] is a system of two stars in which one star revolves round the other or both revolve round a common centre.

10a   Animals // appearing in tapestry (4)

13a   Objections restricting second person /in/ business deals (7)

15a   Charge again /presents/ terrible ordeal (6)

Charge^[5] is used in the sense of to load or fill (a container, gun, etc.) to the full or proper extent.

16a   Female full of trouble // as one in direct confrontation (4-2)

The solution is an adjective (or adverb). Therefore, the word "as" must be included in the definition.

17a   Expression of ambition inadequate for the likes of 21? (3,4,3,5)

The numeral "21" is a cross reference indicator directing the solver to insert the solution to clue 21a in its place to complete the clue. The directional indicator is customarily omitted in situations such as this where only a single clue starts in the light^* that is being referenced.

---

^* light-coloured cell in the grid

18a   Underground activity // fashionable during Chinese dynasty (6)

Ming^[5,12] is the name of the dynasty that ruled China 1368–1644, a period noted for scholarly achievements & artistic works, especially porcelains.

20a   Old bird facing terrible end // cried in pain (6)

The moa^[5] is a large extinct flightless bird resembling the emu, formerly found in New Zealand.

21a   Traveller in new enterprise // wildly enthusiastic, one recruited by the navy (7)

The "new enterprise" was manned space flight.

Yuri Gagarin^[5] (1934–1968) was a Russian cosmonaut. In 1961 he made the first manned space flight, completing a single orbit of the earth in 108 minutes.

22a   Rubbish? The last thing to see /in/ art gallery (4)

Here and There
Rubbish[5] is used in the sense of material that is considered unimportant or valueless ⇒ she had to sift through the rubbish in every drawer. Oxford Dictionaries considers the word rubbish[5] (in all senses) to be British — despite it not being characterized as such by American dictionaries. I think, like yesterday's starlings, the word has long ago become naturalized in North America.

Tat^[5] is an informal British term for tasteless or shoddy clothes, jewellery, or ornaments ⇒ the place was decorated with all manner of gaudy tat.

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"art gallery" = TATE (show explanation )

The Tate Gallery^[5] (commonly known simply as the Tate) is a national museum of art in London, England founded in 1897 by the sugar manufacturer Sir Henry Tate (1819–1899) to house his collection of modern British paintings, as a nucleus for a permanent national collection of modern art. It was renamed Tate Britain in 2000, when the new Tate Modern gallery opened. [I would surmise that by that time the original collection could no longer be considered "modern".]

hide explanation

25a   Time's up here (5,5)

26a   Utter oath, dropping small // treat (4)

27a   Seafood /for which/ crispbread would be out of place (6,4)

The spider crab^[5] is a crab with long thin legs and a compact pear-shaped body, which is camouflaged in some kinds by attached sponges and seaweed.

Here and There

A bit surprisingly, I only found the term crispbread in British dictionaries. Crispbread[5] is a thin, savoury biscuit* made from crushed rye or wheat. * The British use the term biscuit[3,4,11] to refer to a range of foods that include those that would be called either cookies or crackers in North America. In North America, crispbread would be considered to be a type of cracker. A North American biscuit[5] is similar to a British scone.

Down

1d   Cries /when/ boss is nasty (4)

2d   Country // boy ensnares maiden finally (4)

3d   Town // street half cut off has upset couple (6)

Stroud^[7] is a market town (show explanation ) and civil parish (show explanation ) in the county of Gloucestershire, England.

Market town^[10] is a mainly British term for a town that holds a market, especially an agricultural centre in a rural area.

Market town^[7] or market right is a legal term, originating in the Middle Ages, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city. A town may be correctly described as a "market town" or as having "market rights", even if it no longer holds a market, provided the legal right to do so still exists.

In England and Wales, from the time of the Norman conquest, the right to award a market charter was generally seen to be a royal prerogative. Once a charter was granted, it gave local lords the right to take tolls and also afforded the town some protection from rival markets. When a chartered market was granted for specific market days, a nearby rival market could not open on the same days.

As traditional market towns developed, they featured a wide main street or central market square. These provided room for people to set up stalls and booths on market days. Often the town erected a market cross (known as a mercat cross) in the centre of the town, to obtain God's blessing on the trade.

hide explanation

In Britain, a parish^[5] [designated civil parish to distinguish it from an ecclesiastical parish] is the smallest unit of local government, constituted only in rural areas ⇒ a parish councillor.

hide explanation

4d   Wicked conduct, as in Eden, // not approved of (15)

Scratching the Surface
Eden[5] (also Garden of Eden) is the place where Adam and Eve lived in the biblical account of the Creation, from which they were expelled for disobediently eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge.

5d   Condition of fat cats // breaking the law (6)

7d   This person's architectural feature /creates/ an obstruction (10)

"this person's" = IM (show explanation )

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, (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 setter has made the scenario slightly more complicated by combining "this person" with the verb "to be" producing "this person's" (a contraction of "this person is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").

hide explanation

In architecture, a pediment^[5] is:

• the triangular upper part of the front of a classical building, typically surmounting a portico
• a triangular feature surmounting a door, window, or other part of a non-classical building

8d   Seaside experience? // Celebrate during course of it, having journey round (6,4)

What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat describes the journey as being perhaps on a seaside donkey. Donkey rides[7] are a traditional feature of seaside resorts in the United Kingdom. Children are allowed to ride donkeys on a sandy beach for a fee in summer months while on holiday, normally led in groups at walking pace. The tradition started in Victorian times, but is now much less popular. It is probable that the donkeys offered to ride on were originally working draught animals in the cockle industries around the coast.

11d   Time chart I constructed -- // it involves working out numbers (10)

12d   Change international organisation? Right, // it can be part of a power system (10)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization^[5] (NATO) is an association of European and North American states, formed in 1949 for the defence of Europe and the North Atlantic against the perceived threat of Soviet aggression. It includes most major Western powers, although France withdrew from the military side of the alliance in 1966.

An alternator^[2] is an electricity generator that produces alternating current by means of one or more coils rotating in a magnetic field.

Delving Deeper

Alternators[7] are used in modern automobiles to charge the battery and to power the electrical system when its engine is running. Given that the battery and electrical systems of automobiles use DC power, one might wonder why an AC power source would be employed. Until the 1960s, automobiles used DC dynamo generators with commutators. With the availability of affordable silicon diode rectifiers, alternators were used instead. This was encouraged by the increasing electrical power required for cars in this period, with increasing loads from larger headlamps, electric wipers, heated rear windows and other accessories. Alternators have several advantages over direct-current generators. They are lighter, cheaper and more rugged. They use slip rings providing greatly extended brush life over a commutator. The brushes in an alternator carry only excitation current, a small fraction of the current carried by the brushes of a DC generator, which carry the generator's entire output. Despite their names, both 'DC generators' (or 'dynamos') and 'alternators' initially produce alternating current. In a so-called 'DC generator', this AC current is generated in the rotating armature, and then converted to DC by the commutator and brushes. In an 'alternator', the AC current is generated in the stationary stator, and then is converted to DC by the rectifiers (diodes).

13d   Supporting // vehicle turning up ahead of ruler (7)

14d   One with deep pride? (3,4)

The deep^[5] is a literary term for the sea ⇒ denizens of the deep.

19d   Bitterness over work // that goes at a fast pace (6)

"work" = OP (show explanation )

In music, an opus^[5] (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 a more general sense to mean an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒ he was writing an opus on Mexico.

hide explanation

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When it comes to marking the definition, I have diverged from Deep Threat's approach determining that gallop^[5] is used in the sense of a ride on a horse at a gallop ⇒ Wilfred went for a gallop on the sands.

Were one to accept Deep Threat's explanation:

• Bitterness over work /that goes at/ a fast pace (6)

then the phrase "that goes at" must be seen to be a link phrase. In the absence of a better alternative, I might be convinced to accept that explanation. However, given what I see to be a superior choice, I will opt for it.

Behind the Score

Deep Threat illustrates his review with a rendition of "The Devil's Gallop" by British composer Charles Williams. The piece, better known in Britain as the theme music for the BBC radio serial Dick Barton - Special Agent (broadcast from 1946 to 1951) is played by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Charles Williams[7] (1893–1978), born Isaac Cozerbreit, composed music for many British films and radio shows. His best known piece might be the title theme for the 1960 Billy Wilder film The Apartment[7] starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. Originally titled "Jealous Lover", it was first heard in the 1949 film The Romantic Age. A recording by Ferrante & Teicher, released as "The Theme from The Apartment", reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1960.

20d   Common man // from Birmingham is terrible (6)

Scratching the Surface
Birmingham[5] is an industrial city in west central England.

23d   Vessel /with/ the Queen's designation -- you and I will go aboard (4)

"the Queen's designation" = ER (show explanation )

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.

hide explanation

24d   Immature insect/'s/ food (4)

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford 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)

Signing off for today — Falcon