Comments on: Inquisitor 93 – REDRESS by Phi

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:49:07 +0000

A clue from Listener 3979:
Mouth-organ emitted tuneful sounds, like canary did (4)
with three definitions.

By: Hihoba

Hihoba — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:58:10 +0000

I agree that I’ve often seen duplicate definitions, one valid clue type is the “double definiton” after all, but I’ve rarely seen duplicate wordplay plus a definition. Still a good and valid clue.

By: Duncan Shiell

Duncan Shiell — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:34:09 +0000

Yes. When I solved it myself I think I got it from A + GOG. I have however seen clues with three or more definitions – two or more of which presumably are considered to be wordplay, so I guess it is is possible to have as many definitions and wordplays as the setter wishes as long as the clue reads sensibly and all definitions and wordplay lead to the same answer.

By: Hihoba

Hihoba — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:58:26 +0000

Sorry about the omission of DARAVE and KARATE.
I hadn’t really thought about 8D, but I now am inclined to agree with Bridgesong. There are two lots of wordplay and a definition. Most unusual!
I’ll make the necessary amendments.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:34:21 +0000

Duncan

In which case what does “A giant” mean? It’s as if there were two sets of wordplay in one clue.

By: Duncan Shiell

Duncan Shiell — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:23:32 +0000

AGOG is formed from AGO (from the past) + G (first letter of glare = ‘beginning to’ glare)

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:55:39 +0000

Sorry, I’ve just noticed that 7 down has been omitted from the blog. The word play and crossing letters give DARAVE for 7, so that must be DAVE to be replaced by KATE, giving KARATE.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:50:13 +0000

I have to confess that I was defeated by this puzzle (my first attempt at an Inquisitor). Thank you for your clear explanations. I solved most of the ordinary clues without too much trouble, but couldn’t work out how to apply the theme, even in the case of 27 across, where I solved the clue according to the wordplay but couldn’t find the definition word.

I have one small niggle. 8 down: “A giant from the past beginning to glare with great alertness”. I can just about accept “with great alertness” as a definition (Chambers has “in excited eagerness”, which isn’t quite the same thing), and A + GOG is obviously the wordplay; but what does “beginning to glare” have to do with anything? I wasted a lot of time wondering if I had got this completely wrong, even though all the checking letters were correct.