Comments on: Azed 1904

By: Alan O'Brien

Alan O'Brien — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:01:48 +0000

I also had the MIR MEER problem; but it didn’t bother me too much. I know that Azed is a lexicographer who does a lot of his clues from memory, and somethimes he makes minor mistakes, as here.

By: Max

Max — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:52:01 +0000

While trying to confirm 15ac, a Google search threw up the fact that Azed 1711 had previously clued it as:

Pieces inserted into finial for sacred precincts

I was a bit quicker this week, and less mistakes – progress!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:38:17 +0000

Thanks, Bridgesong. I knew the quote but didn’t realise that it came from Jeremy Thorpe.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:40:57 +0000

Andrew, I think that 5 down, with its reference to daggers, is even more subtle than it first appears. On July 13, 1962 Harold Macmillan sacked seven members of his cabinet in an attempt to regain his waning political popularity. The incident became known as the Night of the Long Knives ( a reference to an earlier incident in pre-war Nazi Germany). Jeremy Thorpe famously commented: “greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life”.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:51:55 +0000

Richard, I think you’re right; I actually made a mental note to check that very point when writing up the blog, and then forgot to do so. Strange for two such similar mistakes to occur in close succession.

By: Richard Heald

Richard Heald — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:25:16 +0000

I’m pretty certain Azed has misdefined MEER in 35Ac. Chambers gives MEER(2) as a variant spelling of MIR(2), meaning ‘a Muslim ruler’, whereas it’s actually MIR(1) that’s defined as the farming commune. Suggests Azed hasn’t learnt his lesson after RUSA-gate last month!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:01:16 +0000

Chris – yes, MER was a typo in the blog. Now fixed, and I’ve expanded the explanation.

By: Chris Lance

Chris Lance — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:43:40 +0000

35. MESENTERY SENT in MER + (ha)Y.

I couldn’t work out where the “farming commune” fits in, and I still can’t. I can’t find MER in Chambers, and in any case it looks as though it should be MEER. But neither of the meanings of that word is helpful either.