Monday Prize Crossword/May 7
Most Dante puzzles have at least one or two gems, but this one was rather standard – some might call it “typical Monday fare”. Not much to complain about, not much that stands out either in this friendly crossword.
Definitions are underlined wherever appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | APPEALED | Asked for and attracted interest |
| Double definition | ||
| 5 | SO BE IT | Pose, holding award; a form of acceptance |
| SIT (pose) around OBE (award) | ||
| 9 | PUT RIGHT | Place on one side? Correct |
| PUT (place) + RIGHT (one side, the other being … er … left) | ||
| 10 | STUART | A trust set up by a royal house |
| (A TRUST)* | ||
| 12 | REIGN | Work to rule? |
| Cryptic definition (perhaps) | ||
| 13 | NUMBER ONE | Most important officer on board? |
| Double definition | ||
| 14 | VISAGE | Face having to fail in endeavour |
| SAG (to fail) inside VIE (endeavour) | ||
| 16 | GLIMPSE | A second look at something? |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| Saved by the two meanings of ‘second’. | ||
| 19 | FANATIC | A zealot – in fact, a loony |
| (IN FACT A)* | ||
| I liked this one, mainly because of its silliness. | ||
| 21 | EVER SO | Very strange verse on love |
| (VERSE)* + O (love) | ||
| 23 | INSOLENCE | Silence on reform shows lack of respect |
| (SILENCE ON)* | ||
| 25 | NEHRU | Famous Indian, he comes back in, run out |
| EH (reversal of HE) inside (RUN)* | ||
| 26 | IBIDEM | I’m about to stay in the same place |
| I M around BIDE (to stay) | ||
| 27 | UNCHASTE | Such a net works loose |
| (SUCH A NET)* | ||
| 28 | LEG BYE | Unusual glee by cricketer scoring off his pad |
| (GLEE BY)* | ||
| 29 | FLAWLESS | Noisy and unruly, but otherwise perfect? |
| F (noisy, forte (in the world of music)) + LAWLESS (unruly) | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | ASPIRE | Aim for a high place in the church |
| A SPIRE (high place in the church, literally, although not really ‘in’) | ||
| 2 | PATRICIAN | Lady has name for being aristocratic |
| PATRICIA (lady) + N (name) | ||
| 3 | ALIEN | Foreign article contains inaccuracy |
| AN (article) around LIE (inaccuracy) | ||
| 4 | ENHANCE | Hence an adjustment to improve things |
| (HENCE AN)* | ||
| 6 | ON THE LINE | Using the phone when one is at risk |
| Double definition | ||
| 7 | ERATO | A long time to muse |
| ERA ( a long time) + TO | ||
| 8 | TETHERED | Limited the movement of stock |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 11 | SMUG | Sticks up for the self-satisfied |
| Reversal of GUMS (sticks) | ||
| 15 | ARTILLERY | Large pieces of major road faulty in the centre |
| ILL (faulty) inside ARTERY (major road) | ||
| 17 | POSTHASTE | Quickly get past those dithering |
| (PAST THOSE)* | ||
| 18 | OFFICIAL | Person worthy of credibility |
| Double definition | ||
| The noun (person etc) is slightly interfering with the Adjective (worthy of etc). | ||
| 20 | CANT | Is unable to lean over |
| Double definition, the first including an apostrophe | ||
| 21 | ETERNAL | Point learnt afresh for all time |
| E (point, East) + (LEARNT)* | ||
| 22 | RUBENS | Manages to rope in a live artist |
| RUNS (manages) around BE (live) | ||
| Dante is a setter who frequently uses articles where I wouldn’t have done that – less = more. Normally I do not make a fuss about it, but in this clue “a” is really out of place and misleading. | ||
| 24 | SLING | A weapon attached to a rifle, perhaps |
| Double definition | ||
| 25 | NOHOW | On rising, a brave greeting? Not at all |
| NO (reversal of ON) + HOW (brave greeting, a brave here being an American native) | ||
I’m afraid I still don’t understand 16a. What do you mean by “Saved by the two meanings of ‘second’.”, please?
I can get glimpse = a momentary (ie for a second)look at something but what is the other meaning of second, please?
Couldn’t get
22d -I never know the names of painters (other than Brian who does my stairway).
24d I guessed sling but didn’t wrtie it in as I hadn’t come across a rifle sling.
26a Too obscure for me.
A GLIMPSE is indeed, as you say, a quick look at something (which could mean just for a ‘second’). But one can also have a ‘second look’ at things which is what the surface suggests and which has nothing to do with GLIMPSE. So, therefore a Cryptic Definition that was, in my opinion, (only just) justified by the two interpretations of ‘second look’.