One could demand only ‘general use’ words, but I don’t think that many would be so demanding. Certainly, every EV I’m aware of would fail such a stringent test.

Alternatively, one might want a limit on the use of obscurities. It sometimes seems to me unfair when a setter has needlessly used Words Only Found In Chamber’s to clue a word that is, itself, utterly obscure.

What is noteworthy, but not indefensible, is the palpable dislike of some solvers of slang such as ‘def’. I’ll admit that I find it odd to object to a word that is widely used in a limited area of parlance while not objecting to an archaic, Sperserian, or even traditional dialect word. As I say, I accept that there is a difference between these sets of words, although, to me, it does not seem a significant one. Personally, I find the use of ‘Scottish’ words that no Scot knows, let alone uses, more bothersome, although I can see their value to setters.

The debate echoes in some ways the elitist/populist arguments that reign over the acceptability of Livy and/or Lady GaGa as thematic material.

I got nowhere with this – far too many obscure words. And sorry to sound grumpy but when I see that I was supposed to know that “def” means brilliant (something I would never have got in a million years) I begrudge the time I wasted on it. What a shame, as it was a lovely idea for a puzzle.