[If you’re attending York S&B please see comments 32&33] - here
“Solvers must highlight 29 cells showing (3,3,7) in the symmetrically shaped (3,6,2,5) as recounted by 11.
In 19 clues there is a misprint in the definition that must be corrected before solving. Correct letters spell a three-word phrase that will help lead solvers to the SHAMBLES. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
The misprints spell SOMEONE HAD BLUNDERED, which is a line from The Charge of the Light Brigade.
We therefore highlight THE SIX HUNDRED in THE VALLEY OF DEATH as recounted by TENNYSON.
This was a very quick fill with none of the ‘guess what I’m thinking’ nonsense that some solvers find spoils the endgame of some puzzles.
It would make a very good first puzzle if you know anyone who’s considering taking the plunge.
Thanks, Curmudgeon!
| Notation | |
|---|---|
| Definition | word |
| Indicator | [word] |
| Anagram | WORD* |
| Reversal | <WORD |
| Homophone | “WORD” |
| Misprint | heal |
| Across | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 3 | [Tormented] COUPLES* completely heal (7) | UPCLOSE |
| 8 | Make good A BET (gamble) (4) | ABET | |
| 12 | Violent attack when filming (5) | ONSET | |
| 13 | Lost gas – ZO (cross), [needing] TEA* [to be prepared] [outside] (5) | AZOTE | |
| 14 | Pochard “SEE” (to notice), [we’re advised], [and] DUCK (avoid) (7, two words) | SEA DUCK | |
| O | 15 | Path from <{[centre of] |
STREWTH |
| M | 16 | Having pale tug made of timber (5) | ASHEN |
| E | 17 | Port’s to cover with straw THE [openings of] T |
THETCH |
| O | 18 | [Reportedly] “MISSED” (discovered absence of) type of fig (4) | MIST |
| 19 | [Surprisingly] {SANER SEX AGAIN}* for some recent retirees? (13) | SEXAGENARIANS | |
| 22 | Advice-boats are six attending plea for help (6) | AVISOS | |
| N | 25 | IDLES* [dubiously], [absorbing] E (energy) – with this trait might progress! (6) | DIESEL |
| 28 | A STIR (prison) in motion (5) | ASTIR | |
| 30 | Colour up RED (revolutionary) DEN (study) (6) | REDDEN | |
| 31 | Dyestuff [extracted from] vANILla (4) | ANIL | |
| E | 32 | FEAR (Be afraid of) E (base) math once (5) | FEARE |
| H | 34 | Famish, maybe, [sadly] {ONE LAD CAN}* [going round] I (India) (10) | CALEDONIAN |
| A | 36 | Smell monkey [twice] T |
TEETEE |
| 38 | MEN (Fellows) [backing] TEG (fleece) covering (6) | TEGMEN | |
| 39 | Military copper, < PACER (one who sets speed), [returning] [embracing] D (daughter) (6) | REDCAP | |
| D | 40 | Spicers ARE [wrapping] A N (new) |
ARANEAE |
| 41 | Chronic problem of {A (amateur) [struggling] [with] MATHS}* (6) | ASTHMA | |
| B | 42 | [Unusually] NERVY* [surrounded by] [hollow] W |
WYVERNS |
| Down | |||
| L | 1 | Rifts I (current) [between] HOSTS (publicans) (6) | HOISTS |
| U | 2 | [Recalled] < {EH (what) TANS} (makes brown) carved scythe handle (6) | SNATHE |
| 3 | U (University) [with] SURE (unfailing) interest in olden days (5) | USURE | |
| 4 | {SEE PAST}* [misrepresented] in old Spanish capital (7) | PESETAS | |
| 5 | Detest [first pair of] LO |
LOATHE | |
| 6 | OLD (Early) HUN (barbarian) [with] DRE |
OLD HUNDRED | |
| N | 7 | Bit of a bore – [primarily] S |
SQUAMA |
| D | 9 | BOSH (Nonsense) [centrally] upsTAged Woomera’s goon long ago (6) | BOSHTA |
| 10 | [Worried] ADMIRER* [leaving] |
ETNEAN | |
| 11 | Unclued, see preamble (8) | TENNYSON | |
| 13 | AI (Sloth) [devouring} CA (California)’s fruit (4) | ACAI | |
| 20 | Rude person GOT (irritated) H (husband) (4) | GOTH | |
| E | 21 | FREE (Unimpeded) [dropping] F (fine) rocks in spa (4) | REEF |
| 22 | LeAD ASTRAy, [only partly] heavenwards (7, two words) | AD ASTRA | |
| 23 | VEES (Certain letters) [about] END (object aimed at) for buyers (7) | VENDEES | |
| 24 | Number <IS [over] X (ten)? Not so (3) | SIX | |
| R | 26 | In the past, decide [scattered] SEEDING* (7) | SDEIGNE |
| E | 27 | [Abandoning] CO (county), ALE- |
LERNEAN |
| 29 | S (Son) LATCH (to fasten) slack parts of rope (6) | SLATCH | |
| 30 | RIO (South American city) TRY (to critically examine) boisterous revelry (6) | RIOTRY | |
| D | 33 | Biros [used by] |
ERNES |
| 35 | LE (In France the) AM (morning) glow in times gone by (4) | LEAM | |
| 37 | Deviation in <WAY (road) [to the north] (3) | YAW | |
| H | S | U | P | C | L | O | S | E | A | B | E | T |
| O | N | S | E | T | O | L | Q | A | Z | O | T | E |
| I | A | U | S | E | A | D | U | C | K | S | N | N |
| S | T | R | E | W | T | H | A | A | S | H | E | N |
| T | H | E | T | C | H | U | M | I | S | T | A | Y |
| S | E | X | A | G | E | N | A | R | I | A | N | S |
| A | V | I | S | O | S | D | I | E | S | E | L | O |
| D | E | A | S | T | I | R | R | E | D | D | E | N |
| A | N | I | L | H | X | E | I | F | E | A | R | E |
| S | D | C | A | L | E | D | O | N | I | A | N | R |
| T | E | E | T | E | E | Y | T | E | G | M | E | N |
| R | E | D | C | A | P | A | R | A | N | E | A | E |
| A | S | T | H | M | A | W | Y | V | E | R | N | S |