The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29880.Tough
I found this as tough as is to be expected from Imogen, with some oblique definitions and well-hidden wordplay (in one case too well hidden).
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | CLOVEN |
Opening meeting of wise women is left divided (6)
|
| An envelope (‘opening’) of L (‘left’) in COVEN (‘meeting of wise women’). | ||
| 4 | DEBATER |
One making argument presented girl with tear-jerker (7)
|
| A charade of DEB (debutante, ‘presented girl’) plus ATER, an anagram (-‘jerker’) of ‘tear’-. | ||
| 9 | APOSTOLIC |
Carrying out mission, working as co-pilot (9)
|
| An anagram (‘working’) of ‘as co-pilot’. | ||
| 10 | WRUNG |
Twisted wide part of climbing frame (5)
|
| A charade of W (‘wide’) plus RUNG (‘part of climbing frame’). | ||
| 11 | HEDGE |
German philosopher shortly holding Dutch is a barrier (5)
|
| An envelope (‘holding’) of D (‘Dutch’) in HEGE[l] (‘German philosopher’) minus the last letter (‘shortly’). | ||
| 12 | ALGORITHM |
VP once almost hit badly by mass set of instructions (9)
|
| A charade of AL GOR[e] (‘VP once’) minus the last letter (‘almost’) plus ITH, an anagram (‘badly’) of ‘hit’ plus (‘by’) M (‘mass’). | ||
| 13 | DECLINE |
Go through cases for refuse (7)
|
| Double definition; in the first, ‘cases’ refers to the grammatical parts of verbs. | ||
| 15 | NUCLEI |
Growth centres in new capitals sure to miss out on relaxation (6)
|
| A charade of N (‘new’) plus UC (Upper Case, ‘capitals’) plus LEI[sure] (‘relaxation’) minus (‘to miss out’) ‘sure’. | ||
| 17 | SPRYER |
Mister not active? Even more so (6)
|
| A subtraction: SPR[a]YER (‘mister’) minus the A (‘not active’). ‘Active’ is also required for the definition. | ||
| 19 | DWINDLE |
Gale in valley, but not a drop (7)
|
| An envelope (‘in’) of WIND (‘gale’) in D[a]LE (‘valley’) minus the A (‘but not a’). | ||
| 22 | DIAERESIS |
Having rejected help with new series, a mark for each of the Brontës (9)
|
| A charade of DIA, a reversal (‘rejected’) of AID (‘help’) plus ERESIS, an anagram (‘new’) of ‘series’. A diaeresis is the double dot over the e of Brontë. | ||
| 24 | NEWER |
Nothing cooling in nice jug? Later (5)
|
| A charade of N, which is ‘n[ice]’ without ICE (‘nothing cooling’); plus EWER (‘jug’). | ||
| 26 | SYNCS |
Updates phone and drives into ground to be picked up (5)
|
| Sounds like (‘to be picked up’) SINKS (‘drives into ground’). | ||
| 27 | ENUMERATE |
List non-British food additive consumed (9)
|
| A charade of E-NUM[b]ER (‘food additive’; a number identifying them in the EU and EFTA) minus the B (‘non-British’); plus ATE (‘consumed’)’ | ||
| 28 | PODCAST |
It’s something to hear selected actors at school (7)
|
| A charade of POD (‘school’ – e.g. whales) plus CAST (‘selected actors’). | ||
| 29 | BEHEST |
What is in most excellent order? (6)
|
| An envelope (‘is in’) of EH? (‘what’?) in BEST (‘most excellent’). | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | CLASHED |
This woman staying in, wearing clothes that didn’t match (7)
|
| An envelope (‘staying in’) of SHE (‘this woman’) in CLAD (‘wearing clothes’). | ||
| 2 | OVOID |
Like Humpty-Dumpty, round, as described by poet (5)
|
| An envelope (‘as described by’) of O (’round’) in OVID (Roman ‘poet’). | ||
| 3 | EXTREMITY |
In greatest distress, perhaps a hand (9)
|
| Double “definition”, the second being an indication by example, this time acknowledged (‘perhaps’). | ||
| 4 | DECAGON |
Last month past noon several sides joined for this (7)
|
| A charade of DEC (‘last month’ of the calendar year) plus AGO (‘past’) plus N (‘noon’). | ||
| 5 | BOWER |
South African admitting wife is a violinist (5)
|
| An envelope (‘admitting’) of W (‘wife’) in BOER (‘South African’). An unannounced indication by example. | ||
| 6 | TRUST DEED |
Deter dust blowing around legal document (5,4)
|
| An anagram (‘blowing around’) of ‘deter dust’. | ||
| 7 | REGIME |
In administration, a number of companies’ books are missing (6)
|
| A subtraction: REGIME[nt] (‘a number of companies’ – the apostrophe is just for the surface) minus NT (New Testament ‘books are missing’). | ||
| 8 | ALSACE |
Whites here virtually too sick (6)
|
| The definition is the region whose wines are primarily white; but is the wordplay a reference to the disease ALS? It seems to me most unlikely, but I cannot come up with anything else. All suggestions welcome. | ||
| 14 | CAPTAINED |
Took charge of international and got old boy to leave (9)
|
| A charade of CAP (‘international’) plus [ob]TAINED (‘got’) minus OB (‘old boy to leave’). | ||
| 16 | CLIENTELE |
Following complaints upfront are still not well fed periodically (9)
|
| A charade of C (‘Complaints up front’) plus LIE (‘are still’?) plus NTELE (‘NoT wElL fEd periodically. | ||
| 18 | RESPECT |
Avoid damaging muscle during relaxation (7)
|
| An envelope (‘during’) of PEC (‘muscle’) in REST (‘relaxation’). | ||
| 19 | DISCUS |
Hurled plate (taken from cupboard, is customary) (6)
|
| A hidden answer (‘taken from’) in ‘cupboarD IS CUStomary’. | ||
| 20 | EERIEST |
Most mysterious English lake with a bed of stone (7)
|
| A charade of E (‘English’) plus ERIE (‘lake with a bed’ – the ‘bed’ is a useless piece of information – what lake does not have a bed? – but I think it must belong here) plus ST (‘stone’). | ||
| 21 | ADDS UP |
Makes sense to have another drink (4,2)
|
| A charade of ADD (‘have another’) plus SUP (‘drink’). | ||
| 23 | RASTA |
Follower of religion that elevates a head of state (5)
|
| A reversal (‘that elevates’ in a down light) of A TSAR (‘a head of state’). | ||
| 25 | WHALE |
After wicket robust thrash (5)
|
| A charade og W (‘wicket’) plus HALE (‘robust’). |
ALSACE
virtually too=ALS(o)
sick=very good/badass/ACE (slang)
EERIEST
ST at the bottom (EERIE on a bed of ST)
I came here to avoid I0 in the FT, and I am not sure Imogen did me many favours by throwing out a lot of tough clues and iffy synonyms.
I needed help to parse CAPTAINED and E-number in ENUMERATE was beyond me given I live neither in UK nor EEA. I ticked TRUST DEED and DECAGON.
I see Imogen also appears in the Guardian as Vulcan. How are their crosswords different?
Thanks Imogen and PeterO
Comment #3
The e-number was unknown in this part of the world. Hadn’t heard of Hegel. Whale/thrash was new to me.
Martyn@2, Io in the FT is the only setter I know never to even try!
I parsed EERIEST as KVa @1, as “the bed” giving the word order. Came here to get the parsing of ALSACE.
Thank you to PeterO and Vulcan
I parsed ALSACE as:
ALS(o) [virtually too] + ACE [“sick”, as the kids say (or used to)]
I too skipped IO and went directly to this one. It was tough but fair and really a lot of fun. I agree with KVa on the parsing of ALSACE. I don’t think it has anything to do with Lou Gehrig disease. My favorites were ALGORITHM and CAPTAINED, but there were quite a few that I liked. Thanks to Imogen for saving the day and to PeterO for a great post.
Maybe to trained eyes this could be a masterpiece??but to a young enthuse like me this sounded like absolute g***age!!
GDU @4, I think you’ll find the E numbers for food additives are the same numbers listed on the food you buy in Australia but maybe minus the ‘E’.
I’m a fan of Imogen, but lazy, esp when it’s cricket and shiraz time. So a couple of parses in the SE were in the cqba basket (enumeration — dnk the jargon, and clientele — too many bits to bother). Enjoyed it though, ta Im and Peter.