Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29626 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, March 18, 2021 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29626]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Kath | |
BD rating
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| Difficulty - ★★ | Enjoyment - ★★★ |
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ | |
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Legend:
█ - solved without assistance
█ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
█ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
█ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
█ - solved but without fully parsing the clue
█ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog
█ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog
█ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog
█ - yet to be solved
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Introduction
This is probably one of the easiest RayT puzzles ever. Those who follow the Comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog may be more than a little amazed to see Brian awarding the puzzle five stars for enjoyment.I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
Notes on Today's Puzzle
This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.
| Markup Conventions | |
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| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 7a | Wretched // depression's solved firstly taking exercise (8) |
| 9a | Great Asian nationalist died helping India initially (6) |
RayT's hallmark acrostic clue; the entire clue provides the wordplay in which the definition is embedded.
Mahatma Gandhi[5] (1869–1948) was an Indian nationalist and spiritual leader. He became prominent in the opposition to British rule in India, pursuing a policy of non-violent civil disobedience. He never held government office, but was regarded as the country's supreme political and spiritual leader; he was assassinated by a Hindu following his agreement to the creation of the state of Pakistan.
| 10a | Terror /of/ supporter with extra time (4) |
| 11a | Occasionally Boursin and drink with partner // initially (10) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Boursin[5] (Trademark) is a kind of soft cheese from France. |
| 12a | Local /is/ unaffected about temperature (6) |
I'm afraid Kath made a small slip in her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog; I'm sure she intended to write "temperature" rather than "time". It happens to all bloggers—I've certainly committed far worse.
| 14a | Periodical // is copied irregularly (8) |
| 15a | Empty discharge channel /to create/ dock (6) |
| 17a | Connected to internet, // single describes rejected love (6) |
The word ''describes" is used as a containment indicator. (show more )
The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which relies on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate ⇒
* Although, to be precise, it is the tracks left by the skaters' blades that describe the circles.
hide
The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which relies on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate ⇒
skaters describing circles on the ice*.
* Although, to be precise, it is the tracks left by the skaters' blades that describe the circles.
hide
"love " = O [nil score in tennis]
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
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
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
| 20a | Father's facing high jump perhaps /for/ papers (8) |
What did she say?
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In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Kath writesBe for the high jump[5] is an informal British expression meaning to be about to be severely reprimanded or punished ⇒I was a bit distracted by thinking that ‘facing the high jump’ meant being in big trouble. If your hair was too long, your uniform was wrong or if your boots were dirty you were for the high jump. |
| 22a | Worried // good person married, embracing sweetheart (6) |
"good person " = ST [saint]
Aside from being a "good person" in a religious sense, saint[5] is also an informal term for any very virtuous, kind, or patient person ⇒
The abbreviation for Saint is St*[5] ⇒
* The British do not use a period — or, as they would say, full stop — at the end of abbreviations formed from the initial and final letters of a word.
hide
Aside from being a "good person" in a religious sense, saint[5] is also an informal term for any very virtuous, kind, or patient person ⇒
she's a saint to go on living with that man.
The abbreviation for Saint is St*[5] ⇒
St George.
* The British do not use a period — or, as they would say, full stop — at the end of abbreviations formed from the initial and final letters of a word.
hide
"sweetheart " = E
A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
hide
A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
hide
| 23a | Hostility // rose and gang is disbanded (10) |
| 24a | Ceremony /is/ proper for the audience (4) |
| 25a | Humble // of French chap accepting English (6) |
"chap " = MAN
Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada. It is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
hide
Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada. It is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
hide
| 26a | Attack family about son /and/ hide (8) |
Down
| 1d | A little pig, our man devoured // pig (8) |
| 2d | Queen seen in Court? // Sure thing! (4) |
"Queen " = ER [regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
hide
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
hide
Cert[5] is an informal British term for:
- an event regarded as inevitable ⇒
of course Mum would cry, it was a dead cert
- a racehorse strongly favoured to win a race; or
- a person regarded as certain to do something ⇒
the Scottish [goal]keeper was a cert to play
| 3d | Relax /with/ record penned by Pink (6) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Pink[7] (stylized as P!nk) is the professional name of American singer and songwriter Alecia Beth Moore. |
| 4d | Some sign it ionised, /creating/ spark (8) |
| 5d | Turning one against // needle (10) |
| 6d | Dish which is hot /and/ cold, reportedly (6) |
| 8d | Shaving // small organ (6) |
| 13d | Entire CID's mobilised // lacking diplomacy (10) |
Scratching the Surface
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| The Criminal Investigation Department (seemingly better known by its abbreviation CID[2]) is the detective branch of a British police force. |
| 16d | Passage /of/ old ship entering cold belt (8) |
"old " = O [linguistics]
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
OFr[Old French]; (ii)
OE[Old English].
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
| 18d | Charged // vote for Republican in charge (8) |
"Republican " = R [member or supporter of US political party]
A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5]) is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.
* the other being the Democratic Party
Although, in the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland, the abbreviation does not appear to apply to that usage.
hide
A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5]) is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.
* the other being the Democratic Party
Although, in the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland, the abbreviation does not appear to apply to that usage.
hide
| 19d | Series /is/ smart to cover run (6) |
"run " = R [cricket notation]
| 21d | 'Points of View' /for/ old people? (6) |
The Angles[5] were an ancient Germanic people, originally inhabitants of what is now Schleswig-Holstein, who came to England in the 5th century AD. The Angles founded kingdoms in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia and gave their name to England and the English.
Scratching the Surface
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| Points of View[7] is a long-running British television series broadcast on BBC. It started in 1961 and features the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and observations on BBC television programmes of recent weeks. |
| 22d | Nearly everybody supports beach // footwear (6) |
| 24d | Career /in/ rugby's hard (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] - 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
