The second puzzle by this relatively new Independent setter, as far as I can see.
I thought some of the surfaces were a little clumsy, but still this was an enjoyable puzzle. Cryptic definitions aren’t my favourite clue type (mainly because there isn’t the usual cross-checking between definition and wordplay for confirmation), and I thought 9d was a bit vague, but 5a is a better one. 16a is a good example of how a well-written surface can misdirect the solver, though “delivered” and “hotel” are easily recognised flags if you’ve been playing this game for a while.
Guinevere’s first puzzle was a themed one, and it’s Tuesday . . . There’s a fairly obvious set of languages in the solutions today: VIETNAMESE, GAELIC, HINDI, LATIN, HEBREW, PORTUGUESE, BENGALI, ARAMAIC, TAMIL. I’m not aware of any particular link between these or any particular significance for today’s date. Thanks Guinevere for the fun.
Definitions are underlined; BOLD UPPERCASE indicates letters used in the wordplay; square brackets [ ] indicate omitted letters.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | MARTINI |
Fashionable writer’s going back to collect painting, perhaps for a drink (7)
|
| IN (fashionable) + I’M (the writer is), all reversed (going back), containing ART (painting perhaps). | ||
| 5 | LIBRARY |
Where you can get work temporarily? (7)
|
| Cryptic definition: a place where you can borrow (get temporarily) a copy of a literary work. | ||
| 10 | PALM |
Friend, the first sign of my future may be seen here? (4)
|
| PAL (friend) + initial letter (the first sign) of M[y].
Palmistry, for those who believe that sort of thing; our setter has helpfully included a question-mark to acknowledge those who don’t. |
||
| 11 | VIETNAMESE |
Contest tense title place, losing the last race (10)
|
| VIE (contest, as a verb = compete) + T (abbreviation for tense) + NAME (title) + SE[t] (place, as a verb) without the last letter.
Race = ethnic group. |
||
| 12 | GAELIC |
As some Glaswegians’ speech can be – deceptively angelic but missing a point (6)
|
| Anagram (deceptively) of A[n]GELIC, missing the N which is a point of the compass.
A slightly contorted definition: some residents of Glasgow can speak Scottish Gaelic. |
||
| 13 | INTERIOR |
Central city bordered by Bury (8)
|
| RIO (short name for the city of Rio de Janeiro) surrounded by INTER (bury, as a verb; nothing to do with the town in Greater Manchester). | ||
| 14 | ACCESSION |
Uproar from the right after bill incorporates small addition (9)
|
| NOISE (uproar) reversed (from the right = reading right to left), after ACC (abbreviation for account = bill), containing S (abbreviation for small).
In the sense of a country’s accession (addition) to a grouping such as NATO or the EU. |
||
| 16 | HINDI |
Foreign language newspaper casually delivered by hotel (5)
|
| Sound-alike (delivered = spoken) of INDY (a casual name for the Independent newspaper), after H (Hotel in the radio alphabet).
Well, it’s a foreign language if you don’t happen to be one of the millions of people who speak it. |
||
| 17 | LATIN |
Some mistranslating i.e. as an example (5)
|
| Hidden answer (some . . .) in [mistrans]LATIN[g].
Definition by example, as the clue suggests: i.e. is an abbreviation for Latin id est = that is. Our setter appears to be poking fun at people who get confused between i.e. (that is) and e.g. (for example). |
||
| 19 | TRIANGLES |
Bespoke single art forms (9)
|
| Anagram (bespoke = individually made) of SINGLE ART.
Forms = shapes. |
||
| 23 | DOORSTEP |
It’s just before the entrance collection, Johnny, says Spooner (8)
|
| Spoonerism of STORE (a collection) + DEPP (the actor Johnny Depp). | ||
| 24 | HEBREW |
Traditional Jewish writing is fresh, simple vocab for accessible knowhow at last (6)
|
| Last letters (at last) of [fres]H [simpl]E [voca]B [fo]R [accessibl]E [knowho]W. | ||
| 26 | PORTUGUESE |
Left, you said? Briefly have a stab at Eastern multinational lingo (10)
|
| PORT (nautical term for left) + U (sound-alike for “you” = you said) + GUES[s] (have a stab at) without the last letter (briefly) + E (abbreviation for Eastern).
Multinational language, because it’s spoken not just in Portugal but also in Brazil and other former Portuguese colonies. |
||
| 27 | IRAN |
Far-right extremist heads west, unknown to leader of Republican state (4)
|
| NA[z]I (far-right extremist) reversed (. . . heads west), with the Z (mathematical symbol for an unknown quantity) replaced by the leading letter of R[epublican]. | ||
| 28 | BLOSSOM |
Recalled crowd carrying bereavement flowers (7)
|
| MOB (a crowd) reversed (recalled), containing LOSS (bereavement). | ||
| 29 | BENGALI |
Asian island occupied by English (7)
|
| BALI (Indonesian island) containing ENG (abbreviation for English). | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 2 | ARAMAIC |
The words of Jesus were this: “sceptic, I am a rabbi from the east – at least in part” (7)
|
| Hidden answer (at least in part), reversed (from the east = reading right to left in the clue text), in [scepti]C I AM A RA[bbi].
Semitic language spoken in Judea during New Testament times. |
||
| 3 | TAMIL |
Am I hiding in the middle of boatload of Asian people? (5)
|
| AM I inserted between the middle letters of [boa]TL[oad].
Relating to the Tamil ethnic group in India, Sri Lanka, and neighbouring Asian countries. |
||
| 4 | NOVICES |
Green members have no deputies (7)
|
| NO + VICES (plural of the prefix vice- as in vice-captain = deputy).
Green = inexperienced; novice = an inexperienced member of an organisation. |
||
| 6 | INNATE |
Natural watering hole eroded (6)
|
| INN (a drinking establishment = jocularly a “watering hole”) + ATE (eroded). | ||
| 7 | REMARKING |
Commenting about return of beast man (9)
|
| RE (about = on the subject of), then RAM (male sheep = a beast) reversed (return of . . .), then KING (a “man” on a chessboard). | ||
| 8 | RESPOND |
Rejoin engineers’ small pool (7)
|
| RE (abbreviation for the Royal Engineers corps of the British Army) + S (abbreviation for small) + POND (pool).
“Rejoin” as a verb in this sense is either a legal term or rather obscure, but it’s better known in the noun form “rejoinder” = a spoken response, especially a quick-witted one. |
||
| 9 | LEXICOGRAPHER |
Might her role define her? (13)
|
| Cryptic definition: a lexicographer is someone who writes or compiles dictionaries, and therefore should be able to define what “lexicographer” means. | ||
| 15 | EMIGRATES |
Marie gets out and moves abroad (9)
|
| Anagram (out) of MARIE GETS. | ||
| 18 | AXOLOTL |
Occasionally Manx mog, Leo, stole salamander (7)
|
| Alternate letters (occasionally) of [m]A[n]X [m]O[g] L[e]O [s]T[o]L[e].
A type of salamander from Mexico. |
||
| 20 | ATHLETE |
Jumper, perhaps, is obstacle when stifled by abnormal heat (7)
|
| LET (archaic word for an obstacle, as in the legal phrase “without let or hindrance”), contained in (stifled by) an anagram (abnormal) of HEAT.
Definition by example: high jumper, long jumper, triple jumper . . . |
||
| 21 | EYEBALL |
I cry, spouted from here? (7)
|
| Sound-alike (spouted = said out loud) of I BAWL (I cry).
Extended definition: crying involves tears, though they’re not really spouted from the eyeball itself. |
||
| 22 | STAG DO |
God is aggrieved after holy man has a last night of debauchery? (4,2)
|
| Anagram (aggrieved) of GOD, after ST (abbreviation for saint = holy person) + A (from the clue text).
Traditionally, a bridegroom’s night out with his male friends just before his wedding. |
||
| 25 | BLING |
Providing an invoice, with one pound off, for ostentatious decorations (5)
|
| B[il]LING (providing an invoice), without the first I (one in Roman numerals) + L (usually written £ = abbreviation for pound sterling). |
I’m also not quite a fan of cryptic definitions, but 1) to each their own and 2) more importantly the difficulty level of the crossword was still very much comfortable, only having to reveal two letters. I can’t believe I didn’t spot BENGALI sooner. Having seen this blog post now, I also can’t believe I’m only understanding the wordplay for IRAN now. I should have remembered the letter replacement trick.
Thanks Guinevere and Quirister!
PALM, LATIN, NOVICES and BLING were my faves.
Agree with Quirister’s opinion on 9d.
Thanks Guinevere and Quirister.
Yeah, I missed the parsing of IRAN also. Didn’t much care for 9d but was pleased to get it. Not the greatest of Spoonerisms either. Apart from those, an enjoyable outing.
IRAN
Is the instruction for replacing Z with R correct in the clue?
Z to R—>Z to become R?
The blog sums up my reaction to the puzzle. I got fixated on QA-Anon for the far right extremists leading to the wrong Middle Eastern state.
Thanks Guinevere for an enjoyable crossword. Most of this was smooth sailing for me but I missed INTERIOR (I mistakenly saw ‘bordered by’ as juxtaposition instead of containment) & I needed a word finder to solve 9d. My top picks were LIBRARY, HINDI, BENGALI, INNATE, EMIGRATES, and BLING. Thanks Quirister for the blog.
I often don’t like wordy clues, but I liked these. Seemed mostly to tell a little story. Thanks to Guinevere, and hope to see you again. Thanks also to Quirister
Thanks Guinevere and Quirister.
I thought 9 was LEXICOGRAPHER = Might her role define her
..as of course any word could go on the end, but “her” is nice and misleading.
For 9d I had “feminographer”. This seemed apt given the gendered nature of the clue, and I have seen the term here and there on the web. (The QM in the clue also suggested a coinage.) Thanks G & Q.
Liked 9d and as a cryptic def it rather nicely chimed with the general theme of language. Thanks Guinevere and Q