Monday Prize Crossword / Jan 23, 2017
Fairly typical Dante but …..
…… quite a few clues for which I found it hard to write down a straightforward explanation.
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | UNDERGARMENT | Item of wear that’s never worn out (12) |
| Definition with cryptic extension | ||
| 10 | DEMESNE | The estate needs me for organisation (7) |
| (NEEDS ME)* [* = for organisation] | ||
| 11 | NARRATE | Hastened back with class report (7) |
| Reversal [back] of RAN (hastened) + RATE (class) | ||
| 12 | AUDEN | Poet of golden study (5) |
| AU (golden) + DEN (study) W.H. Auden (1907-1973). |
||
| 13 | EMPYREAN | Highest peer many found out of place (8) |
| (PEER MANY)* [* = found out of place] | ||
| 15 | LACHRYMOSE | Tearful student Mary chose to have special treatment (10) |
| L (student) + (MARY CHOSE)* [* = to have special treatment] | ||
| 16 | REEF | A knot seamen consider dangerous (4) |
| Double definition, somewhat interwoven (impossible to underline the second one properly) A reef knot is according to Collins: a knot consisting of two overhand knots turned opposite ways. It is also called a square knot. A reef is also: a ridge of rock, sand, coral, etc, the top of which lies close to the surface of the sea, therefore potentially dangerous for sailors. |
||
| 18 | SERF | One among the lesser folk in feudal times (4) |
| Hidden [among] in: (the) lesser folk (in feudal times) Close to an &lit. |
||
| 20 | LOVE LETTER | O Valentine! (4,6) |
| Double / Cryptic definition O can be taken as love, zero in tennis. And, it is also a letter (no 14 in the alphabet). One of the definitions of Valentine is: an amatory or humorous card, message or gift sent, often anonymously, on St Valentine’s Day (Chambers). |
||
| 22 | IN POCKET | Where to keep the money when you’ve made a profit (2,6) |
| Kind of double definition | ||
| 24 | CLASH | Jar in which pound may be kept in ready money (5) |
| L (pound, £) inside CASH (ready money) | ||
| 26 | EMERITI | Honorary professors – ie retired but retaining integrity (7) |
| Reversal [retired] of IE, placed around MERIT (integrity) | ||
| 27 | PILLION | Back seat taken by passengers (7) |
| (Not so) Cryptic definition | ||
| 28 | ELEPHANT SEAL | Large marine mammal in mammoth close-up (8,4) |
| ELEPHANT (mammoth) + SEAL (close up, without hyphen) | ||
| Down | ||
| 2 | NOMADIC | Kind of people who follow the herd (7) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 3 | ELSINORE | Girl holds no alternative site for Hamlet (8) |
| ELSIE (girl) around NOR (indicating: no alternative) | ||
| 4 | GLEE | At end of evening, general merriment (4) |
| [evenin]G + LEE (general) Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), the American Civil War general who is also famous for his appearances in cryptic crosswords. |
||
| 5 | RINGMASTER | Telephone a teacher – he’ll crack the whip! (10) |
| RING (telephone) + MASTER (a teacher) | ||
| 6 | EARLY | Organised relay in good time (5) |
| (RELAY)* [* = organised] | ||
| 7 | TRAPEZE | Swingers’ bar (7) |
| Cryptic definition A nice one, even if I’ve seen this several times before. |
||
| 8 | IDEALLY-SUITED | Faultlessly dressed – like perfect partners? (7,6) |
| Double definition | ||
| 9 | PENNY-FARTHING | Old coppers found bike (5-8) |
| Double definition | ||
| 14 | IMPOVERISH | One politician finished his career bankrupt (10) |
| I (one) + MP (politician) + OVER (finished) + (HIS)* [* =career] | ||
| 17 | HERCULES | Labour candidate? He’s admitted taking dirty money in return (8) |
| HE’S around a reversal [in return] of LUCRE (dirty money) The definition is clearly cryptic. |
||
| 19 | REPLETE | Traveller allowed key is satisfied (7) |
| REP (traveller) + LET (allowed) + E (key, musical note) | ||
| 21 | TSARINA | Terrible strain on a ruler (7) |
| (STRAIN)* + A [* = terrible] I’ve heard that, for some, this is an alternative spelling of ‘Theresa’. |
||
| 23 | CHILE | It’s cold, we hear, in the country (5) |
| Homophone [we hear] of CHILLY (cold) | ||
| 25 | OPEN | Start work in French (4) |
| OP (work) + EN (in, in French) | ||
*anagram
Thanks Dante and Sil
Took just under the hour to do this one – not sure whether it was distractions along the way or whether it was a bit tougher!
Found it a mix of the well used clues plus some clever ones that I liked a lot – particularly LOVE LETTER and my last one in, HERCULES.