Schadenfreude returns to the Inquisitor stage this week.
The preamble told us that in across clues a word which has only one letter in common with the answer must be removed before solving and that letter must also be removed from the answer before grid entry. In clue order these letters spell part of a quotation which governs the way in which down answers are to be entered. 6 down (which cannot be thematically treated) is unclued.
Right then we have half the clues needing amendment and all the grid entries are different from the solutions to the clues. This should be a doddle then!
The North West corner was fruitful for me initially with SCOTOPIA (18 across), CLOTH (1 across), OWENIST (14 across) and PILSNER (16 across) yielding pretty quickly. I noticed fairly early on that all the down entries had an even number of letters (excluding the thematic 6 down which had 13) so when 3 down looked like SOFTEN there was a fair chance that it was going to be entered with the second half of the solution before the first – i.e. entered as TENSOF. I also solved 37 across (ARTIC) and 22 down (TITTERER) early on which helped consolidate my suspicions about the form of entry of the down clues.
There was bit of confusion over three of the acrosses (33, 34 and 36) before I realised that the enumerations in my edition of the i newspaper were incorrect for these clues.
The central down entry began to look like ALEXANDER ? and the start of the extract from the quotation looked like it began with HALF. Taking these two bits of information together I came up with the extract as HALF TO RISE AND HALF TO FALL when I had just over 50% of the letters identified properly. This phrase confirmed the way the down entries went in. The phrase is taken from the poem An Essay on Man written by ALEXANDER POPE in 1733–1734.
From that point it was easier to identify the redundant words in the across clues. Also the down clues seemed to me to be slightly easier than the across ones so the grid began to fill up quite quickly from then on.
I particularly liked the across clues as they read as sentences with and without the redundant words.
To me, this was a puzzle that looked fearsome at first but became a joy to solve once the first few clues had been cracked.
The filled grid looked like this
The title derives from the name of the poem, An Essay on MAN
| Across | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. |
Clue Amended Clue |
Word / Letter |
Wordplay |
Solution |
Entry |
| 1 |
Learner aboard small boat beginning to hoist her sails (5) Learner aboard small boat beginning to hoist sails (5) |
HER H |
(L [learner] contained in [aboard] COT [small boat]) + H (first letter of [beginning to] HOIST) C (L) OT H |
CLOTH (sails) | CLOT |
| 7 |
In Aberdeen he looks after cattle yard owned by brother Jack with family backing (7) In Aberdeen he looks after cattle yard owned by brother with family backing (7) |
JACK A |
(Y [yard] contained in [owned by] BR [brother]) + NAME (family) reversed (backing) B (Y) R EMAN< |
BYREMAN (Scottish [Aberdeen] word for a farm servant who looks after cows) | BYREMN |
| 11 |
Disc originally recorded by wiseacre restricting slight echo (5) Disc originally recorded by wiseacre restricting echo (5) |
SLIGHT L |
R (first letter of [originally] RECORDED) + (OWL [wiseacre] containing [restricting] E (Echo is the international radio communication codeword for the letter E) R OW (E) L |
ROWEL (knob, ring or disc on a horse’s bit) |
ROWE |
| 12 |
Ruined wash including everything soft (6) Ruined wash including everything (6) |
SOFT F |
FEN (wash [defined as marsh or FEN]) containing (including) ALL (everything) F (ALL) EN |
FALLEN (ruined) | ALLEN |
| 14 |
Wise not crazy follower of socialistic party cooperation (7) Wise not crazy follower of socialistic cooperation (7) |
PARTY T |
Anagram of (crazy) WISE NOT OWENIST* |
OWENIST (follower of Robert OWEN [1771 – 1858], British social reformer, who proposed to establish society on a basis of socialistic co-operation) |
OWENIS |
| 15 |
Persuasive English monarch lacking heart avoids participating in divination (8) Persuasive English monarch lacking heart participating in divination (8) |
AVOIDS O |
E (English) + (QUEEN [monarch] excluding the middle letter [heart] E contained in [participating in] LOT [divination]) E LO (QUEN) T |
ELOQUENT (persuasive) | ELQUENT |
| 16 |
One litre tin carried by a beer tray (7) One litre tin carried by a beer (7) |
TRAY R |
(I [one] + L ([litre)] + SN [chemical symbol for tin]) contained in (carried by) PER (a) P (I L SN) ER |
PILSNER (light-coloured variety of lager) |
PILSNE |
| 17 |
Slightly mad American on quiet working holiday (6) Slightly mad American on QUIET holiday (6) |
WORKING I |
FIE (variant spelling of FEY [slightly mad]) + ‘ST (hush; quiet!) + A (American) FIE ST A |
FIESTA (holiday) | FESTA |
| 18 |
Sociopath out of hospital suddenly developed the ability to see in dim light (8) Sociopath out of hospital developed the ability to see in dim light (8) |
SUDDENLY S |
Anagram of (developed) SOCIOPATH excluding (out of) H (hospital) SCOTOPIA* |
SCOTOPIA (vision in dim light) | COTOPIA |
| 19 |
Simple workmen dig a trench on promontory (7) Simple dig a trench on promontory (7) |
WORKMEN E |
SAP (dig a trench) + HEAD (promontory) SAP HEAD |
SAPHEAD (weak or foolish person; simple [as a noun]) |
SAPHAD |
| 21 |
Banker penning sharp adult aphorisms (6) Banker penning adult aphorisms (6) |
SHARP A |
GNOME (banker, reference the GNOMES of Zurich [obscure but powerful international financiers or bankers]) containing (penning) A (adult) GNOM (A) E |
GNOMAE (pithy sayings or aphorisms) | GNOME |
| 25 |
Prominent willing leader starred and worked outside Paddington? (14) Prominent leader starred and worked outside Paddington? (14) |
WILLING N |
Anagram of (working) STARRED AND containing (outside) BEAR (reference Paddington BEAR from the books by Michael Bond) STANDARD (BEAR) ER* |
STANDARD-BEARER (outstanding leader) | STADARDBEARER |
| 26 |
An aspiring mad squire once cheated pocketing 2000 lire (6) An aspiring squire once cheated pocketing 2000 lire (6) |
MAD D |
(DONE [cheated] containing [pocketing] Z [medieval Roman numeral for 2000]) + L (lire) DON (Z) E L |
DONZEL (obsolete [once] word for a squire, aspirant to knighthood.) |
ONZEL |
| 29 |
Who burst open what remains in deserted church? (7) Burst open what remains in deserted church? (7) |
WHO H |
(EH [what] + IS [remains]) contained in (in) (D [deserted] + CE [Church {of England}]) D (EH IS) CE |
DEHISCE (burst open) | DEISCE |
| 31 |
Hybrid grey donkey consuming the last of her autumn fodder (8, 2 words) Hybrid grey donkey consuming the last of her fodder (8, 2 words) |
AUTUMN A |
(Anagram of (hybrid) GREY + ASS [donkey]) containing (consuming) R (final letter of [last of] HER) RYE G* (R) ASS |
RYE GRASS (pasture and fodder GRASS) | RYE GRSS |
| 32 |
Albert’s gold rococo ornament (6) Albert’s rococo ornament (6) |
GOLD L |
Anagram of (rococo) ALBERT LABRET* |
LABRET (lip ornament) | ABRET |
| 33 |
Stock comic strip with European replacing old African (7) Stock comic strip with European replacing old (7) |
AFRICAN F |
FUMETTE (E replacing O in FUMETTO [Italian cartoon or comic strip]) FUMETTE |
FUMETTE (strongly-flavoured stock, especially one obtained from cooking game or fish) |
UMETTE |
| 34 |
Small Dutch container boat saving power (8) Small container boat saving power (8) |
DUTCH T |
GALLIOT (small galley [boat]) containing (saving) P (power) GALLI (P) OT |
GALLIPOT (small glazed container) | GALLIPO |
| 35 |
Scots shackle Republican captured by military force (7) Shackle Republican captured by military force (7) |
SCOTS O |
R (Republican) contained in (captured by) LEGION (military force) LEGI (R) ON |
LEGIRON (fetter or shackle for the LEG) | LEGIRN |
| 36 |
A quarter of Oban in quest of favourite films (6) A quarter of Oban in quest of favourite (6) |
FILMS F |
FOR (in quest of) + PET (favourite) FOR PET |
FORPET (Scottish [Oban] word for a fourth part; quarter) | ORPET |
| 37 |
Playful colt taken out of very cold lorry (5) Colt taken out of very cold lorry (5) |
PLAYFUL A |
ARCTIC (very cold) excluding (taken out of) C (colt) ARTIC |
ARTIC (articulated lorry) | RTIC |
| 38 |
An inflamed swelling on councillor held a greasy fluid (7) An inflamed swelling on councillor a greasy fluid (7) |
HELD L |
CR (councillor) + A + BOIL (inflamed swelling) CR A BOIL |
CRAB-OIL (greasy fluid from tropical trees of the mahogany family |
CRABOI |
| 39 |
Liquids percolate through boggy ground in places (5) Percolate through boggy ground in places (5) |
LIQUIDS L |
LETCH (variant spelling of LEACH [percolate through]) LETCH |
LETCH (Scottish [in places]word for a mire or boggy ground) double definition
|
ETCH |
| Down | |||||
| No. |
Clue |
Wordplay |
Solution |
Entry | |
| 1 | Farmer’s produce for sale in Consumers’ Association retail outlet accepting credit (8, 2 words) |
CA (Consumers’ Association) + (SHOP [retail outlet] containing [accepting] CR [credit]) CA SH (CR) OP |
CASH CROP (CROP intended for sale) | CROPCASH | |
| 2 | Drier nipple to bear third of milk (8, 2 words) |
TEAT (nipple) + OWE (bear a person a grudge) + L (third letter of MILK) TEA T OWE L |
TEA TOWEL (drier) | OWELTEAT | |
|
3
|
Sons frequently grow weak in muscle (6)
|
S (sons) + OFTEN (frequently) S OFTEN |
SOFTEN (grow weak in muscle or mind)
|
TENSOF | |
| 4 | Indian banana tree of bygone days (8) |
PLANTAIN (in India, a banana) PLANTAIN |
PLANTAIN (obsolete [of bygone days] word for platane or plane-tree) double definition
|
TAINPLAN | |
| 5 | Tie up marine animal (4) |
SEAL (confirm; complete; tie up) SEAL |
SEAL (marine animal) double definition | ALSE | |
| 6 | See preamble |
ALEXANDER POPE (thematic author of the quote partly spelt out by the letters removed from the across grid entries)
|
ALEXANDER POPE | ||
|
7
|
Female institute supported by mostly moderate Liberal (6)
|
I (institute) + SOBER excluding the last letter (mostly) R + L As this is a down entry, I is supported by the letters SOBE and L beneath it. I SOBE L |
ISOBEL (female name)
|
BELISO | |
|
8
|
Distracted earl lost to view (6)
|
|
E (earl) + PERDU (lost to view) É PERDU |
ÉPERDU (distracted)
|
RDUEPE
|
|
9
|
Soldiers stopping to prevent an allegation (8)
|
MEN (soldiers) contained in (stopping) AVERT (prevent) AVER (MEN) T |
AVERMENT (allegation in a pleading in a court action)
|
MENTAVER | |
|
10
|
Boat dwellers without a defeat (4)
|
TANKA (boat-dwelling population of Canton) excluding (without) the final A TANK |
TANK (defeat)
|
NKTA
|
|
| 13 | Iron rim section at the front of gardener’s tool |
S (section) + HOE (gardener’s tool) S HOE |
SHOE (rim of iron nailed to a hoof) |
OESH | |
| 20 | Arabian queen wearing short more suitable hair ornament (8) |
(AR [Arabian] + R [Regina; queen]) contained in (wearing) BETTER (more suitable) excluding the last letter (short) R B (AR R) ETTE |
BARRETTE (BAR shaped hairclip or hair ornament) |
ETTEBARR | |
| 22 | Sun blending with this segment could make measurement complex (8) |
METAMERE (together with SUN, METAMERE forms an anagram [complex … blending] of MEASUREMENT*) METAMERE |
METAMERE (segment) | MEREMETA | |
|
2 3 |
Twerp runs round gnarly tree – he laughs with restraint (8)
|
(TIT [twerp] + R [runs]) containing (round) an anagram of (gnarly) TREE TIT (TERE*) R |
TITTERER (one who laughs in a furtive or restrained fashion)
|
ERERTITT | |
| 24 | A flock of birds being outside delights antideluvian (8) |
ENS (being or existence) containing (outside) CHARM (variant spelling of CHIRM [collective noun for a flock of goldfinches]) EN (CHARM) S |
ENCHARMS (obsolete word [antedeluvian]) for delights) | ARMSENCH | |
| 26 | Wolf extremely savage having flukes? (6) |
LOBO (timber wolf) + SE (first and last letters of [extremely] SAVAGE) LOBO SE |
LOBOSE (having flukes [parasitic worms, esp those which causes liver rot in sheep]) |
OSELOB | |
|
27
|
Highly valued force departs (6)
|
PRIZE (variant spelling of PRISE [force]) + D (departs) PRIZE D |
PRIZED (highly valued) | ZEDPRI | |
|
28
|
Odd pieces of garter in grey not stained (6) |
GREIGE (letters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 [odd pieces] of GARTER IN GREY) GREIGE |
GREIGE (undyed, descriptive of cloth; not stained)
|
IGEGRE
|
|
| 30 | See Irish retreat (4) |
LA (see!) + IR (Irish) LA IR |
LAIR (retreat) | IRLA | |
| 32 | Virginians’s horse, namely Silver (4) |
SC (scilicet; namely) + AG (chemical symbol for silver) SC AG |
SCAG (American [Virginian] word for heroin [horse]) | AGSC | |
| 33 | Almost triumph over poet’s fugitive (4) |
EXULT (triumph) excluding the last letter (almost) T EXUL |
EXUL (Spenserian [poet’s] word for an exile; fugitive) I think ‘over’ may be indicating ‘obsolete’ as there is no reversal in play or it may just be a link word in the clue | ULEX | |
Thanks as usual to both Schadenfreude and duncanshiell. I too found this one pleasant going after an initially alarming preamble. Worries that the “off” letter counts in a few clues indicated a need for Cunningly Devious Treatment proved baseless …
Duncan – I think 33d is normal: exult is defined as “triumph over” in my copy of Chambers.
I didn’t even notice the letter count problem: having determined that the first few letter counts seemed consistent with the preamble, I just ignored them…
Thanks to Schadenfreude – even though he abandoned his usual mantra that every entry was a real word – and to Duncan for the blog.
Enjoyable, and on the easy side for Schadenfreude. I guessed fairly early on what we needed to do with the down entries, so the message came as confirmation really that I wasn’t making a real hash of things. Bit alarmed by the incorrect enumerations at first, but all good at the close.
An easy ride this week. A bit put off by the incorrect enumerations but OK. Thanks go to Duncan and Schadenfreude. Nuff said.
After getting the down clue entry method quite quickly, I convinced myself that the unclued 6 down must be “chop and change” – well it does have “and” in the middle – which messed me up for a while until I realised my error!
As always we were pleased to see this setter’s name last Saturday, but for once we didn’t really enjoy a Schadenfreude puzzle. It was as ingenious and unambiguous as ever and the theme only became apparent at a very late stage, but having got the method of entry for down clues very quickly (thanks to an inspired Mrs T) we found filling the grid a bit of a chore, I guess because there were no real words other than in the central column. And copying the answers into the original grid for submission had to be done very carefully – lots of scope for errors there!
I finished this but with a lot of guesses that I could not explain. Thanks to Duncan and Scadendreude.
I am now several weeks behind with the IQ so I have a lot of catching-up to do.