Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 14
A fine Cincinnus this time with great anagrams in 24A (SVENGALI) and 5D (NOW THERE’S A THING), a dazzling cryptic definition in 13D (GOOD IN PARTS), and some good double definitions. I also like 10A (WELL-NIGH).
Across
1. POWHATAN – PO[ndicherry] + WHAT (pardon) + AN (an). A Powhatan was a member of the Algonquian people who lived in Virginia (where I live).
6. SECURE – CUR (dog) in SEE (check out)
9. STAPLE – double definition
10. WELL-NIGH – LL (£50) + N (note) together in WEIGH (consider)
11. SPRY – R (resistance) in SPY (agent)
12. ETHOLOGIST – anagram of GOT THE OILS. No, no, not THEOLOGIST!
14. SHREWDER – SHREW (bad-tempered woman) + RED (Titian) backwards. As well as being an Old Master, TITIAN refers to a bright reddish-gold colour named after him.
16. OKRA – OK (fine) + RA[in]
18. UGLI – homophone (“ugly”)
19. SPANIARD – SPA (resort) + DRAIN (empty) backwards
21. ELIMINATED – I (one) + MIN (minute) together in ELATED (on cloud 9)
22. PAGE – P (quiet) + AGE (time)
24. SVENGALI – anagram of VANGELIS
26. ERRING – ER (Queen) + RING (band)
27. BLOWER – B (bishop) + LOWER (subordinate)
28. GO TO SEED – GO TO SEE (visit) + [woul]D
Down
2. ON TOP – ONTO (aware of) + P (power)
3. HAPPY MEDIUM – double definition
4. THE BENDS – N[o] D[iving] in THEBES (ancient city)
5. NOW THERES A THING – anagram of THREATENING SHOW
6. SOLELY – [sw]E[et] in SOLLY (Solomon)
7. CON – double definition
8. REGISTRAR – GIST (substance) + R (right) both in REAR (the end)
13. GOOD IN PARTS – double/cryptic definition (no ham actor). If you are not familiar with the meaning of the term “curate’s egg”, please look it up to get the full, illustrated story. I suggest Wikipedia.
15. HIGH-LEVEL – HIGH (on a trip) + LEVEL (even)
17. HARDIEST – anagram of HIS TRADE
20. UNFAIR – [f]UNFAIR (where rides are, not beginning)
23. GENIE – GEN (information) + IE (that is)
25. NEW – homophone (“knew”)
Thanks again, Pete, and like you I thought this was Cincinnus back on form after a few lesser [though still enjoyable] puzzles.
Many contenders for my Clue of the Day [including two of your list (5d and 13d)].
I also liked the very concise definition in 21 ac’s ELIMINATED (‘out’).
For a while I was wondering why Cincinnus used Pondicherry of all places to get a P and an O. But after I found out that it is a place in India, it makes sense in combination with ‘Indian’ in the clue [which is, of course, another kind of Indian].
Good crossword!
The usual very good crossword from Cincinnus, but I was a bit doubtful about his ‘Leaders in Pondicherry’ to give PO. I haven’t seen this before (but have seen things like ‘first two in Pondicherry’) and it seems a bit loose to me. It could be PO or PON or POND or … Is it justified?
Almost ten years after I blogged this puzzle, it has come to my attention that Cincinnus may have intended it as one with a theme. That theme would be the writer and cartoonist George du Maurier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_du_Maurier).
I can now relate two clues to this theme, 13dn (GOOD IN PARTS) which refers to the Curate’s Egg and 24ac (SVENGALI). Svengali was the main character in du Maurier’s Gothic novel Trilby. Can anyone find more?