Comments on: Inquisitor 1240: Solve for X and Y by Gila

By: Ali

Ali — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 12:26:43 +0000

Many thanks to Duncan for the excellent blog and to all for the comments. I’m glad that the puzzle seemed to go down well.

The title itself was the starting point for the puzzle. I’d never seen the letter substitution idea done in this way before (though I’m sure it has at some point), and it was good fun finding the definitions and wordplay that could be adapted. I hope they weren’t too taxing.

As I studied German at uni, I always intended to use einundzwanzig for the 2. Vinte-e-um was used for the 1 purely as it is was the right number of letters to keep the symmetry in the highlighted grid. That 21 was a recurring theme throughout was more good fortune than anything else. It never actually dawned on me that solvers could do the (x + y) + (x + y) = 42 sum before starting, but, as I always say to people, I’m a words man, not a numbers man!

Regarding the ‘E = bit’ debate, I make use of the iPhone version of Chambers (which is now equivalent to the printed 12th edition I think). Under the entry for E/e (noun), the ‘mute 5th letter’ definition referenced by Matthew @ 6 appears under heading 1., but the “Bit, bite’ example then appears as a standalone entry under its own heading 2. I generally never question the numerous single letter indicators in Chambers (there are more than enough of them and they are useful), but agree that this looks a bit strange in hindsight.

And, yes, ‘out’ was designed to indicate ‘free’ in the ‘out of jail’ sense in FREEZABLE.

Anyway, I’m now on the board so to speak and hope to provide more fun in the future.

Ali (Gila)

By: Shark

Shark — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:55:41 +0000

I test solved a puzzle once where the setter had used bit = e. Quickly reading Chambers I can see why it looks as if they are synonyms, but if I remember correctly it is in relation to the phonetics of the words bite/bit. I therefore think that bit does not equal e and advised a change on that particular puzzle. Perhaps John H could comment if reading

By: Jim T

Jim T — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:28:50 +0000

Very inventive puzzle which I really enjoyed. The x and y clues were excellent.

By: John Lowe

John Lowe — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:02:07 +0000

With reference to 1, 2 5 and 6: I now see that clause embedded in the principal definition for E (including in my 2003 edition of Chambers) – and as a consequence I don’t think bit or bite should legitimately be used as an indication for E – unless there is some other indication, elsewhere.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:26:21 +0000

Chambers says that E is ``often mute, commonly indicating a preceding long vowel or diphthong: cf not, note; bit, bite''. I can see how if you were looking quickly at the entry for an interesting word to indicate E, you might mistakenly think that the semicolon is separating two definitions.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 22:45:53 +0000

This was an impressive (amazing!) construction with some excellent clues, my favourite being VENEREAL. Pretty hard, but ultimately solvable and v enjoyable. Many thanks, Gila, and Duncan.

By: duncanshiell

duncanshiell — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:02:03 +0000

John Lowe @ 1

E defined as ‘bit, bite’ is in the current edition (12th Edition) and the previous one. I am not sure about earlier editions.

By: Rob H

Rob H — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:13:42 +0000

Thanks for the blog. Hadn’t done my arithmetic, Maslanka-style, at the start so didn’t spot the (x+y)+(x+y)= 42.
Re 25A, think the free part of clear refers to ‘out’(as in out of prison). The definition ‘that may be stopped’ refers to something, like your TV, that can be ‘frozen’

By: chesley

chesley — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:01:02 +0000

Well you live and learn! I have never noticed e = bit before and can’t, for the life of me, understand why it should be. Any definitive answers?

By: John Lowe

John Lowe — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:22:30 +0000

Thank you, Duncan, for a very comprehensive blog.

I also had trouble parsing 25 across. I feel that if “that may be stopped” indicates FREE, then the definition should be the whole clue, and I can’t make that fit.

I am curious to know in which edition of Chambers you found E related to BIT (5 across). I can’t see it in my (2003, I think) edition. I tried looking up the association online, but was unsuccessful…

Thanks also to Gila: as well as enjoying solving the crossword, I have learnt some Portuguese – I usually stop at French and a little German!