Inquisitor 1276: Fundamental Error by Lato

Eleven corrections to definitions spell a phrase explaining 10 unclued entries. The remaining unclued entry (defining the phrase) would “in normal cryptic crossword usage, regard Lato’s interpretation as erroneous.”

Don’t really understand that last bit, but let’s crack on.

Progress was moderate, but enough to get HOBO & DOSSER as two unclued entries. The breakthrough came roughly half-way through with the misprinted U in the clue for 23a which gave me BUMS … as the start of the phrase, quickly guessing … ON SEATS as the rest, and leading to AUDIENCES as the ‘odd’ unclued entry. It was then that I realised that SEATS referred to SEAT cars (pronounced SAY-AT) and so those two BUMS were sitting on IBIZA & LEON. (And that the other unclued entries were paired in a similar way.)

The rest followed in quick succession. (I had to Google SEAT models – not in any of my reference works.) I hazard that the last sentence of the rubric refers to the two possible pronunciations of SEAT, and that the Fundamental of the title alludes to Chambers’ definition of “fundament” as buttocks.

Lots of short words here, and a theme more verbal than ‘general knowledge’. (Also, shades of 1146 Angels/Devils on Horseback.) But some good clues, so let’s not quibble – thanks.

Across
No.	Answer	Correction to definition		Wordplay
1	STONECHAT			[ONCE THAT’S]*
6	AWED			A(thletic) + WED (united)
9	TRIUMVIR			TRIUM(ph) (victory) VIR(go) (sign)
10	FREE	B	bold	R (rex, king) in FEE (payment)
12	RAGA			(compose)R + AGA (cooker, range)
14	DIOTA			AID (help) around TO rev.
15	AMEN			AMEN(d) (cure)
17	GELT			GET (make) around L (fifty)
18	ÉPÉE			(R)EEPE(rbahn) rev.
19	CIRRUS			C (circa, about) IR(eland) + SUR (on) rev.
21	AESIR			A(re) + RISE (mount) rev.
23	PET	U	sulk	EP(istle) (letter) rev. + (cour)T
24	IDAHO			HAD (was obliged) rev. in IO (10)
25	QUORN			QUOD (prison) − D(emand) + RN (Royal Navy, service)
26	BOT			BORAT (Kazak) − RA (Royal Academician, artist)
27	OATER	M	film	(m)OAT ER(roneously)
29	ACNED			CANED (drunk) with first letter moved
33	AS TO			OT (Old Testament, holy book collection) + SA (sex appeal, it) rev.
35	TUBA	S	stop	TUB (pulpit) before A
37	LEHR	O	oven	LE (the, Fr.) + HR (Croatia, IVR)
40	URIC			(Z)URIC(h)
41	ARVO			V(ictor) in A RO (run out)
Down
No.	Answer	Correction to definition		Wordplay
1	STRATA			TARTS (girls, disrespectful) rev. + A (one)
2	NUANCE			NUISANCE (pain in the arse) − IS
3	EMO			(on)E MO(re)
4	HIDE	N	skin	HID (kept secret) + E(quipment)
5	TSOTSI			[IT’S]* around SOT (fool, obs.)
6	AFT			RAFT (a large number) − R(esistance)
7	WRAP			RAP (crime), homophone
8	DESERT	S	Gibson maybe	[RESTED]* {ref.: The Gibson Desert, Western Australia}
11	EXETER			EX (old) + RETE (network) rev.
13	GESTATE			EG (for example, say) rev. + STATE (say)
16	CIAO			CHOW (food), homophone
18	ECRU			[CURE]*
20	REPEL	E	check	LEPER (outcast) rev.
22	SPREAGH	A	foray	[HEARS GP]*
25	QADI			Q(uery) A(bout) DI (defence intelligence)
26	BHARAL			LAB(our) rev. around HAR(d)
28	ATTICA			[CAT TAI(l)]*
30	COLUMN	T	post	COLUMBUS (explorer) + N(ame) − BUS (car, affectionate)
31	DORCAS			[CARDS + O(ld)]*
32	SHIRE	S	horse	[RELISH − L(ake)]*
34	TIVO			IV (four) in TO
36	BALD			BAWLED (cried), homophone
38	BON			NOB (toff) rev.
39	MAE			[(n)AME(d)]*

9 comments on “Inquisitor 1276: Fundamental Error by Lato”

A thoroughly entertaining puzzle. When I got TOLEDO and ALHAMBRA, I actually got the ‘bums on seats’ connection by assuming he meant seats of power. LEON is also a municipal capital so I wonder(ed) whether this was intentional on Lato’s part?

Regardless, a very enertaining solve.

This was fabulous – a relatively easy solve, but more than made up for by that rare thing: a penny-drop that genuinely made me laugh. Thanks Lato, and HolyGhost for the blog.

Got all the bums but largely missed the seats, other than “Alhambra” (which briefly threw me off on a theatres tangent) and then eventually “Toledo”. Quite why I never googled both words I will never know!

Despite missing the crucial twist, still very much enjoyed it.

I was lucky enough to be able to test solve this for Lato. I noticed a few bum-type words, as it were, in the unclued entries and a spotted a few Spanish places in the across, unclued entries. I can’t remember exactly which word it was, but I think it was when I saw that TOLEDO (or it might have been ALTEA) fitted the checking pattern, I immediately thought of Seat cars and the penny dropped — what a brilliant moment that was. A marvellous idea, I just wish I’d have thought of it! As always with Tyrus/Lato, the clues are concise and perfectly formed.

I wish I had more time to solve these IQ puzzles. Every one I have solved has been a gem and I think special mention should go to John Henderson and his checking team for his/their sterling work editing the series.

Great stuff, Lato

I agree with Tramp (#4) about the excellent standard that our editor, Nimrod, has set. Like the other commentors, I enjoyed this one. I got the SEATS first via IBIZA and ALTEA, and only tumbled to the BUMS later, and realised that the bums were positioned ON the Seats after completion! Very clever Lato.