A gentle introduction to the solving week.
A failry straightforward puzzle, maybe slightly tougher than the average Monday Guardian. Smooth surfaces and clever double definitions, nothing overly obscure (although I didn’t know a noddy was a bird).
Thanks, Carpathian.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | BENEFACTRESS |
Angel acts serene moving around following behind bachelor (12)
|
| *(acts serene) [anag:moving] around F (following), behind B (bachelor) | ||
| 8 | OLIVIER |
Old organ trapping one actor (7)
|
| O (old) + LIVER (“organ”) trapping I (one) | ||
| 9 | ALCOVES |
Adult adores snorting cocaine in corners (7)
|
| A (adult) + LOVES (“adores”) snorting C (cocaine) | ||
| 11 | PLATEAU |
Regularly speak up about delayed plane (7)
|
| [regularly] (s)P(e)A(k) U(p) about LATE (“delayed”) | ||
| 12 | SPINNER |
Top priest embraced by transgressor? (7)
|
| P (priest) embraced by SINNER (“transgressor”) | ||
| 13 | NODDY |
In New York find rum bird (5)
|
| ODD (“rum”) in NY (New York)
A noddy is a seabird related to the tern. |
||
| 14 | AGGREGATE |
Assemble silver work unit around entrance (9)
|
| Ag (chemical symbol for “silver) + <=ERG (“work unit”, around) + GATE (“entrance”) | ||
| 16 | ABATEMENT |
European people starting to tire following a club in decline (9)
|
| E (European) + MEN (“people”) + [starting to] T(ire) following A BAT (“a club”) | ||
| 19 | CAROL |
Oracle dropping ecstasy gyrating to song (5)
|
| *(oracl) [anag:gyrating] where ORACL is ORACL(e) dropping E (ecstasy) | ||
| 21 | IMPACTS |
Effects of decrees by one politician (7)
|
| ACTS (“decrees”) by I (one) +MP (Member of Parliament, so “politician”) | ||
| 23 | EURASIA |
Froideur as I attempt to cover very large land mass (7)
|
| Hidden in [to cover] “froidEUR AS I Attempt” | ||
| 24 | NURTURE |
Bring up work about time by river (7)
|
| <=RUN (“work”, about) + T (time) by (River) URE | ||
| 25 | IDYLLIC |
Perfect Lily crushed and caught by papers (7)
|
| *(lily) [anag:crushed] and C (caught, in cricket) by ID (identity “papers”) | ||
| 26 | INTELLIGENCE |
Telling niece about tip-off (12)
|
| *(telling niece) [anag:about] | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | BRIGAND |
Group keeping kit for highwayman (7)
|
| BAND (“group”) keeping RIG (“kit”) | ||
| 2 | NAIVETY |
Disgustingly vain yet showing artlessness (7)
|
| *(vain yet) [anag:disgustingly] | ||
| 3 | FORMULATE |
Create document university passed (9)
|
| FORM (“document”) + U (university) + LATE (“passed”) | ||
| 4 | CHAPS |
Men from church spring up (5)
|
| Ch. (church) + <=SPA (“spring”, up) | ||
| 5 | RECLINE |
Right to turn down taking head rest (7)
|
| R (right) + (d)ECLINE (“to turn down”, taking head, I.e. first letter) | ||
| 6 | SAVANNA |
South American vehicle in front of North American ecosystem (7)
|
| S (south) + A (American) + VAN (“vehicle”) in front of N (north) + A (American) | ||
| 7 | COMPENSATION |
Novel poem contains correction (12)
|
| *(poem contains) [anag:novel] | ||
| 10 | SURVEILLANCE |
Watch Parisian on screen with weapon (12)
|
| SUR (“on” in French, so “Parisina on”) + VEIL (“screen”) with LANCE (“weapon”) | ||
| 15 | GATHERING |
Understanding assembly (9)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 17 | ASPIRIN |
Drug treated sprain around middle of thigh (7)
|
| *(sprain) [anag:treated] around [middle of] (th)I(gh) | ||
| 18 | EXCLUDE |
Old sign across front of door to bar (7)
|
| EX (“old”) + CLUE (“sign”) across [front of] D(oor) | ||
| 19 | CARRY ON |
Fuss over dead and rotting flesh we hear (5,2)
|
| Homophone/pun.aural wordplay [we hear] of CARRION (“dead and rotting flesh”) | ||
| 20 | RESOLVE |
Determination to relax (7)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 22 | SPELL |
Quietly entering market in interval (5)
|
| P (piano in music notation, so “quietly”) entering SELL (“market”) |
Took me almost the exact same time as yesterday’s Quiptic. This is an observation and nothing more. BENEFACTRESS was last one in. I only really understood it once the F appeared. No problem with SAVANNA but I’d have expected an H on the end.
Thanks Carpathian and loonapick
Very straightforward and very enjoyable. I always scribble notes around the edges, but first time ever, I haven’t.
I’m not sure why resolve means relax but otherwise found this neat and satisfying. Many thanks to Carpathian and for the clear blog.
The second column from the right spells “See to II”. I wonder if they’re starting to lay the breadcrumbs for No. 40,000…