Monday Prize Crossword/Mar 24
Smooth week-opener by Dante with, once more, a lot of cryptic & double definitions, envelopes and anagrams – especially in the Down clues.
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | FOSSIL | Ancient stone vessel found in protective wrapping (6) |
| SS (vessel) inside FOIL (protective wrapping) | ||
| 4 | CADDIE | Club porter (6) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 8 | CANDIDA | Outspoken article by G.B. Shaw (7) |
| CANDID (outspoken) + A | ||
| Candida is a 1894 play by George Bernard Shaw. | ||
| 9 | A LA MODE | A big hit, poetry that is in fashion (1,2,4) |
| A + LAM (big hit) + ODE (poetry) | ||
| 11 | STRAIGHTEN | Adjust rate and things should be different (10) |
| (RATE + THINGS)* | ||
| 12 | NAFF | Vulgar female football supporter rebuffed (4) |
| Reversal (‘rebuffed’) of: F (female) + FAN (football supporter) | ||
| 13 | COMMA | Brief stop for many in a trance (5) |
| M (many, 1000) inside COMA (a trance) | ||
| 14 | INDICTED | Shown to have a deficit and charged (8) |
| INDICATED (shown) minus the A (‘to have A deficit’) | ||
| 16 | ATLANTIC | US visitors to Europe have probably come across it (8) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 18 | ABEAM | At the side of a supporter (5) |
| A + BEAM (supporter) | ||
| 20 | STET | Revision of test indicates second thoughts are not always better (4) |
| (TEST)* – the solution can be a verb or a noun | ||
| 21 | DISCHARGED | Daughter is accused, but let off (10) |
| D (daughter) + IS + CHARGED (accused) | ||
| 23 | LINGERS | Left to resign in chaos, hangs around in hope (7) |
| L (left) + (RESIGN)* | ||
| 24 | LEGHORN | Chicken and port (7) |
| Double definition | ||
| Leghorn is the former name of the Italian port Livorno. | ||
| 25 | ELAPSE | Pass by the Spanish church feature (6) |
| EL (the, Spanish) + APSE (church feature) | ||
| 26 | ASIDES | Sadie’s exchanging confidences (6) |
| (SADIE’S)* | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | FEAST | Noisy oriental entertainment (5) |
| F (noisy, Forte) + EAST (oriental) | ||
| 2 | SIDEARM | Weapon not used at the front? (7) |
| Definition with a cryptic twist | ||
| 3 | INDIGNANT | Dining out with social worker, somewhat angry (9) |
| (DINING)* + ANT (social worker) | ||
| 5 | ALL IN | A couple of students go to popular comprehensive (3,2) |
| A + L,L (couple of students, two Learners) + IN (popular | ||
| 6 | DEMONIC | New income below five hundred is diabolical (7) |
| (INCOME)* under D (five hundred) | ||
| 7 | END OF TERM | Time to break up when policy matures (3,2,4) |
| Double definition | ||
| 10 | STAIRCASE | A connection between stories (9) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 13 | CUT IT FINE | Almost too late to dice (3,2,4) |
| Double definition, although the first one is a bit loose | ||
| 15 | DEATHLESS | These lads may turn out to be immortal (9) |
| (THESE LADS)* | ||
| 17 | ANTIGUA | A tug in a storm in the West Indies (7) |
| (A TUG IN A)* | ||
| Antigua is an island in the Carribean. | ||
| 19 | EARTHED | Broken-hearted, but protected from shock (7) |
| (HEARTED)* | ||
| 21 | DARTS | Shoots game (5) |
| Double definition | ||
| 22 | EARLS | Features about fifty members of the House of Lords (5) |
| EARS (features) around L (fifty) | ||
should be 14578.
Thanks Ilippu, error corrected.
Defeated by 1a where having 2d as reararm did no help and 8a ditto.
24a also did for me having heard of neither.Otherwise quite a confidence booster.