Comments on: Guardian 25,241 / Gordius

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:47:12 +0000

Hi Tony @38

I gave the SOED definition: ‘growing along the ground, or just under the surface, and sending out roots at intervals’, rather than Chambers, simply, ‘lying on the ground and rooting’ because I thought it gave the idea of the ‘creeping’ derivation and it’s easier to see how the ‘rooting’ connotation came about.

But I agree that it’s very obscure. I haven’t come across anyone who has heard of this secondary meaning of ‘repent’. I tried it out yesterday afternoon on my Latin reading group, several of whom are keen gardeners, without success!

By: Tony Davis

Tony Davis — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:22:08 +0000

Having some claim to being a Latin scholar, my initial feeling on reading Eileen’s explanation of 21d was one of shame – I put in REPENT but couldn’t see the connection. On reflection, though, I don’t feel so bad, since ‘repere’ means ‘to creep or crawl’ with no suggestion of taking root. Even my partner, a fanatical and knowledgeable gardener, didn’t get it. Not a good clue.

By: Carrots

Carrots — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:28:30 +0000

Hi There Auntie E….But Gordius is already a Curate isn`t he? (He`s certainly a Vicar)

The only kind of Curate dear to my heart is the assistant to a bar-tender in Ireland! (Yes, really!)

Paul to look forward to today, which will lift my spirits. Have a good one! XX

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:47:02 +0000

Thanks Eileen.
Well,unlike most here I liked this puzzle(there’s always one…!).
O.k. the orphan definition may be a bit imprecise,but Gordius doesn’t profess to be Ximenes.
SAVOY was pretty obvious to me,L’ANE perhaps,may be near the limit of what solvers can resonably be expected to know of French,but the definition was pretty straightforward.Being a donkey myself http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Guernsey probably influenced my liking of this clue.
Didn’t know the subsidiary meaning of REPENT,but one of the reasons I enjoy crosswords is because I learn new words/meanings.
Ah well we’re all different.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:02:05 +0000

Hi Carrots

So you have to bring in more religion with the curate?

Sleep well.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:52:16 +0000

Hi Sil

It was a dull, damp morning anyway – but the sun came out later!

As you say, let’s leave it there.

By: Carrots

Carrots — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:50:16 +0000

The curate lays another egg. Some answers were hopelessly obscure and others too tedious to put in. I had to wait for Eileen`s informative blog for the last three solutions before cosigning my effort to the trash can, where it undoubtedly belongs.

The maddening thing is that Gordius is capable of some really good chicanery, but he had his religious hat on today…the kiss of death for a humanist like me.

The only thing I can provide for the pit-knickers is that The Savoy`s restaurant is, and always has been, known as “The Savoy Grill”. The Savoy is the name of the hotel which accommodates it.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:34:12 +0000

Derek

As I said in the blog, we quite often in crosswords see ‘tin’ clued as ‘can’ and vice versa.

Here we have CAN-A clued as ‘Tin-a’.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:33:13 +0000

Well, Eileen, seeing the name Gordius this morning surely must have made your day …
As you said, fairly typical.
Not even that many niggles, but in a way this crossword just didn’t come to life.

Like many others we fell short on CANA.
I do not want to start a discussion again on these types of clues [and others, please, do not either], but they still don’t appeal to me.
As I have said on earlier occasions, for me Tin/a has not the same feel as in/deed.
I know that many others do not agree, but as I see it, the break in ‘indeed’ is a natural one and the one in ‘Tina’ randomly chosen. This CANA is of the same sort as ‘Winter’ for WESTBURY or ‘not’ describing that the ‘t’ should be deleted.
But as I said, let’s leave it here.
In any case, another setter who joined the Army [can't remember, like liz @14, having seen Gordius using this 'device']

As one originally from the Continent, I had no problem with LANE – and why should we blame Gordius when the Other Rev is just as keen on La Douce France.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:30:11 +0000

I went to Wikipedia, and followed a link to John 2 and from there to the King James version. I duly read verses 1:11. Tina? Nope, not mentioned. So why Tina? Is it some pathetic attempt at a dimunitive for Christian?