So 10 unclued entries this week, and all in a “depleted” form. And either one or two letters have been added to some clues (whenever thematically possible) . All very cryptic – ah but this is a cryptic crossword with a twist or 2. Sounds intriguing.
Well this proved to be a very peculiar puzzle for me, in that the penny dropped very quickly. Not sure why, but I suspect it was the title and maybe the fact I’ve been rereading some Conan Doyle recently. Holmes educating Watson that the answer is obvious if you consider the clues – what type of words can appear in “self -referentially depleted form” – it’s elementary not simple dear Watson. What then is a subtraction – deductions continuing the Holmesian theme (which I feel 25 across also alludes too (The element HOLMIUM). So all the unclued entries are elements with their symbols requiring removal before entry in the grid e.g. Lithium (Li) becomes THIUM at 6 across etc.
Across
6 LI thium
16 SE lenium
34 NO belium
41 DY sprosium
42 CD amium as in Cadmium
Down
2 MN aganese as in Manganese
4 EU ropium
28 TA ntalum
26 TE LLURIUM
37 ER bium
Once these symbols have been removed they can be rearranged to yield ELEMENTARY DEDUCTIONS.
Bizarrely, in my opinion, there are 2 other clues to this phrase (perhaps there could be an alternative solution otherwise?)
- there are also 11 symbolic elements removed from the clues giving N (Nitrogen), AR(argon) Y(Yttrium) U (Uranium) C (Carbon) TI (Titanium) O (Oxygen) N (Nitrogen) S (Sulphur) – the other letters unable to yield elements.
- 25 ac is Holmium (an element)
A very enjoyable puzzle, with an extremely well executed theme, which was mercifully devoid of any of the EV gremlins. Many thanks Charybdis, I did enjoy this. Holmes himself is visible in the completed grid if you make a slight detour in 25ac)
grid
Key:
Rev. Reverse
* Anagram
DD Double definition
ACROSS
1 Retreat back after oars snagging and scraping the ground (8)
Rev(lair) after (oars)* = RASORIAL
10 For instance put bit of bitumen in ground for river as a blocked layer (8, hyphenated)
Eg (for instance) + ground (replacing r (river) with b (bit of bitumen) = EGG-BOUND
12 Spaces round line and circle for lively dances (6)
Gaps (spaces) round l (line) + o (circle) = GALOPS
14 Who’s out of love with intrusive renegade’s rages (6)
Whos – o (love) around rat (renegade) = WRATHS
15 They ought to pass Enigmatic Variations between upcoming people (8)
Ev (enigmatic variations) in risers (upcoming people) = REVISERS
19 Dead-headed pansy comes back (ends finally) (5)
(Rev Violet – v (dead-headed)) = TELOI
20 Advanced new maths? — no good wheeze will come of this (6)
A (advanced) + (maths)* = ASTHMA
22 Withdraws over last month sitting in bishops’ offices (7)
Sees (Bishops’ offices) around Rev (Dec(ember)) = SECEDES
27 Kindle fragrance (7)
DD Incense
29 Stops everything for work or plays for time? (6)
Stops – op (work) + all (everything) = STALLS
N removed from clue
32 Meant cut wood to have square opening (5)
Meat cut wood to have square opening
Teak (wood) after s (square) = STEAK
36 Revisit college kiwi lecturer’s retired from (8, 2 words)
C (College) + all black (kiwi) – l (lecturer) = CALL BACK
39 Oil producer that is into vending to the West (6)
Rev (Sale (vending around ie) = ELAEIS
40 The old diminish in strength — a very soft demeanour (6)
A + pp (very soft) + air (demeanour) = APPAIR
AR removed from clue
43 They may hold opposing boards — wrestling stratagem required right away (8, 2 words)
They may hold opposing bods — wrestling stratagem required right away (8, 2 words)
(Stratagem – r)* = TAG TEAMS
DOWN
1 Fillet — a piece is served up (6)
Rev (a + luger (piece as in gun)) = REGULA
Y removed from clue
3 Boy anointed with smear of oil that was worth at least a penny (5)
Bo anointed with smear of oil that was worth at least a penny (5)
Bo in (oil)* = OBOLI (Plural of Obolus – half penny so must be worth more than a penny)
5 Bet not initially getting into mischief (4)
Ate (mischief) around n (not initially) = ANTE
6 Current nonsense about doughnuts (4)
Rev(I (current) + rot (nonsense)) = TORI
7 Company that make chips at home allowed to turn up (5)
In (at home) + Rev(let (allowed)) = INTEL (Check your compute if you wonder what sort of chips)
8 I hold part of rigging, snarled rope with odd pieces to haul (6)
((rope) + HaUl (odd pieces))* = UPHROE
9 Fail to keep one quiet — just like a schoolgirl (7)
Miss (fail to keep) + I (one) + sh (quiet) = MISSISH
11 Witness cracking chap turning up, fresh lad from Middle East (6)
See (witness) in Rev(man) = NASEEM
13 Client sick of pondwater (6)
(client)* = LENTIC
U removed from clue
17 Stuart of Edinburgh’s bird, a loved girl (5)
Start of Edinburgh’s bird, a loved girl
E + smee (bird) = ESMEE
18 Wreaths of flowers ready in Bucharest (4)
DD LEIS
C removed from clue
21 Engaged in pharmaceutical solutions in addiction (4)
Engaged in pharmaceutical solutions in addition
Hidden pharmaceuticAL Solutions = ALSO
23 A mixture of oil and water goes in here (6)
(oil and)* = DOLINA (a swallow hole i.e. underground funnel)
TI removed from clue
24 Son beset by weakness ran without notion guts will be needed (7)
Son beset by weakness ran without noon guts will be needed
Vice (weakness) aroud s (so) + ran – n (noon) = VISCERA
25 This man’s athletic — was ahead of rest and got better (6)
He (this man) + a (athletic) + led (was ahead) = HEALED
O removed from clue
30 Having dug around river, I’ll brew some coups perhaps (6)
Having dug around river, I’ll brew some cups perhaps (6)
Teat (Dug as in nipple) around Po (river) = TEAPOT
31 Acts the sycophant — how HRH is addressed is taken on board (6)
Marm (how HRH is addressed) in SS (On board) = SMARMS
N removed from clue
33 An E in their register? — baritone or tenor, say, coming up with none (5. with hyphens)
An E in their register? — baritone or tenor, say, coming up with one (5. with hyphens)
Rev (male (baritone or tenor)) + I (one) = E-LA-MI
35 Circuit’s energy failure (5)
Laps (circuit’s) + e (energy) = LAPSE
S removed from clue
38 Leafy wrapping slid over top of ankle (4)
Leafy wrapping lid over top of ankle (4)
Cap (lid) + a (top of ankle) = CAPA