Comments on: Azed 2021 plain

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:03:58 +0000

Thanks for that link, sidey. I will have a longer look at it.

Hi bridgesong: thanks for the explanation of the R. It rings a little bell now.

“You really don’t have much chance of completing an Azed without it.”

I can complete them but have to resort to other sources to verify definitions. I have the 2008 edition on my Wish List.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:25:20 +0000

Thanks, all, for your comments.

I’m kicking myself over NOLL; obviously NOLE is correct for the reason which George gives @2. I also accept Jan’s explanation for BALDERLOCKS @4. The R in AFRIT comes from “take”, as r is an abbreviation for recipe, the Latin for “take”; it used to be common for doctors to include it on prescriptions. MAILLOT is now also defined as a jersey in the 2008 edition, but I knew it from the French “maillot jaune” or yellow jersey worn by the leader in the Tour de France. BOFF, LINGSTER (under lingua) and RAPPEN are indeed all in the 2008 edition. You really don’t have much chance of completing an Azed without it.

By: sidey

sidey — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:48:45 +0000

There is a little known version of Chambers available on their site called WordWeb. The free version is not the latest version but it’s quite useful http://wordweb.info/free/

NOLE is an odd one for Azed, he’s a bit of a swine with four letter clues.

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:16:53 +0000

I hadn’t done a barred puzzle since Richard Whiteleggs’ last offering as Mephisto in the ST, more than 15 years ago. At Derby I met some Azed fans and decided to have a go.

I mention the time gap because two things struck me as I solved the puzzles. With so many crossing letters and uncommon words how tempting and easy it is to use Chambers Word Wizard on the Net and my 25 year old copy of Chambers Dictionary is no longer good enough – four of the solutions to this puzzle are not in it and other definitions did not include given key words.

Word Wizard readily supplied BALDERLOCKS but the linked dictionary couldn’t find it, nor could my book. The word ‘tangle’ suggested that it was a seaweed.

I could guess SIMAR from the clue but my Chambers referred me to CYMAR (dress) or CHIMER (tabard) neither of which mention ‘coat’.

MAILLOT is defined as ballet tights or a swimsuit – no sign of a ‘jersey’.

I couldn’t find BOFF, LINGSTER or RAPPEN in my dictionary. I presume all these words are in the 2008 edition?

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:13:29 +0000

Thank you for the blog, bridgesong. I came to the same conclusion as George, re NOLE, with a nod to Shakespeare, but I’m not at all sure where the R comes from in AFRIT. Am I missing something obvious?

I was happy with … ‘He’s thinner on top, he has balder locks.’

This being only my third Azed puzzle I have some thoughts but will make another post to avoid boring everyone.

By: Andrew Kitching

Andrew Kitching — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 09:22:16 +0000

Well done George. I realise that with NOLL there’ll be no chance of book tokens this week.

By: George Heard

George Heard — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 02:58:19 +0000

I had 31 as NOLE because with NO L,E LEAR would be A,R

By: grandpuzzler

grandpuzzler — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:23:18 +0000

Thanks for your blog, bridgesong. In 1dn I thought that LOCKS simply meant hair. I was unsure about 31ac. I opted for NOLE because Lear was Shakespearean. Doubtless, someone will have a better explanation.

Cheers…