One for lovers of double definitions…
…but not for me.
Personally, I prefer more wordplay in puzzles, but this May suit some solvers.
I did like 24ac, 5dn and 15dn, but couldn’t parse 16ac.
Sorry that the definitions are not underlined in the blog, but I am doing this on my iPad on a short break in Dundee, and the iPad doesn’t seem to let me underline anything in the solution. Many of the clues would have been underlined in their entirety!
| Across | ||
| 1 | AFTER ALL |
Nevertheless, is not to be satisfied with just part (5,3)
Double definition |
| 6 | AFFORD |
Spare part of a loaf for dinner (6)
Hidden in loAF FOR Dinner Def: spare |
| 9 | COPPER |
A good conductor controls the beat (6)
Double definition (metal and policeman) |
| 10 | TRIANGLE |
The eternal musical instrument? (8)
As in the Eternal Triangle |
| 11 | BEAR |
Display stand (4)
Double definition |
| 12 | CONSCIENCE |
Study to gain knowledge and moral insight (10)
CON + SCIENCE Def: moral insight |
| 14 | PRIMATES |
Senior churchmen easily shocked by a setback (8)
PRIM + A + <=SET Def: senior churchmen |
| 16 | TILT |
List of lists (4)
Cryptic definition? |
| 18 | SPIN |
Short run which distinguishes slow bowlers (4)
Double definition A spin in a car, for example, and spin bowlers are normally also slow bowlers. |
| 19 | APPRAISE |
Pop back to extol value (8)
<=PA + PRAISE Def: value |
| 21 | CONSIDERED |
Thought one had respected other people’s feelings (10)
Double definition |
| 22 | ASPS |
Trees spring back around south (4)
S in <=SPA Asp is a rarer form of “aspen” |
| 24 | WATERLOO |
Crushing defeat later, perhaps, in court (8)
*(later) in WOO Def: crushing defeat |
| 26 | MOATED |
Having all-round defence in depth? (6)
Cryptic definition |
| 27 | PERIOD |
A time in which love and pride are mingled (6)
*(pride o) Def: a time |
| 28 | NICOTINE |
Arrest adolescent providing narcotic substance, we hear (8)
Homophones of NICK A TEEN I think the “we hear” has to be nearer it the “arrest adolescent” for this to work properly. |
| Down | ||
| 2 | FROZE |
Remained perfectly still and went cold all over? (5)
Double definition |
| 3 | EXPERIMENTS |
Tries to correct extreme spin (11)
*(extreme spin) Def: tries |
| 4 | ATROCITY |
CIA try to resolve crime (8)
*(CIA try to) Def: crime |
| 5 | LET ONE’S HAIR DOWN |
Rocky island with nowhere to relax (3,4,4,4)
*(Island nowhere to) Def: relax |
| 6 | APIECE |
For each expert, a pastry dish in brought in (6)
A(PIE)CE Def: for each |
| 7 | FAN |
Cool an ardent admirer (3)
Double definition |
| 8 | ROLL CALLS |
Vocal registers (4,5)
Cryptic definition |
| 13 | EXTRAVAGANT |
Having no saving graces? (11)
Cryptic definition |
| 15 | REPROBATE |
Discount accepted for a bad egg (9)
RE(PRO)BATE Def: a bad egg |
| 17 | EPIDEMIC |
Rash outbreak? (8)
Double definition, or a weak cryptic definition? |
| 20 | ADDLED |
Having gone off thoroughly confused (6)
Double definition |
| 23 | PREEN |
Swan to circle about and tidy her feathers (5)
P(RE)EN Def: tidy her feathers |
| 25 | ELI |
A priest that’s about, about fifty? (3)
<=I.(L)E. Def: priest (in the Old Testament) |
Thanks Dante and loonapick
Was a bit of a surprise to see a Dante today and although time-wise it was a normal straightforward solve, it felt a little more challenging than usual for some reason. Perhaps because there were some unusual meanings of common words – hadn’t seen ASP as an alternative name for the aspen tree previously, took a little while to get the car ride meaning of SPIN and a longer time to see the display definition of BEAR.
Saw 16a more as a double definition with the ‘tipping over’ for list and ‘the arena for jousting’ definition of lists. TILT has the same tipping over meaning and also means to joust. Quite clever in the end.
Finished with the tricky ROLL CALLS, (eternal) TRIANGLE and the aforementioned TILT.
Yes, I found it more challenging than Dante usually is — possibly today because he’s taking his definitions to their furthest possible extent (and sometimes beyond, such as tilt?). But most enjoyable.Thanks Dante and loonapick
18a The action of spin bowlers means that they usually only need to take a short run-up.
Re the double definition in 16a, Chambers gives “lists” as “a jousting-ground”, as brucew@aus says above, and also gives TILT as “a tilt yard”, which in turn means “a place for jousting”.
Thanks loonapick and Dante.
I agree that the clue for 28ac is back to front. The homophone indicator should surely be for the first part of the clue.
I assume that the first “in” in the clue for 6dn is a typo or editing error.
Usual stuff from Dante but I really liked REPROBATE.
I thought Tilt was a poor answer (preferred roll). Struggled with this generally…!