Monday Prize Crossword / Oct 12, 2015
Dante on a Monday. Nothing new under the sun. That said, there weren’t that many cryptic definitions this time.
For me, it was a crossword of two halves.
A quick solve of the right-hand side but meeting some difficulties in the West.
Looking back at it, I cannot see why that part of the puzzle should have troubled me the way it did.
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | FORBID |
Though in favour of an acceptable offer, say no (6)
FOR (in favour of) + BID (an acceptable offer) |
| 4 | OBEDIENT |
Debit one transferred, following orders (8)
(DEBIT ONE)* [* = transferred] |
| 9 | ENVIED |
Begrudged having to compete in the final round (6)
VIE (to compete) inside END (the final round) |
| 10 | GOING FOR |
Being in favour of making an attack (5,3)
Double definition |
| 11 | TENETS |
A number set about forming principles (6)
TEN (a number) + (SET)* [* = about] |
| 12 | ADHERENT |
Disciple has to stick to holy writ (8)
ADHERE (to stick) + NT (holy writ, New Testament) |
| 13 | ALE |
A pound note gets you a drink (3)
A + L (pound) + E ((musical) note) |
| 14 | MOUNTS |
Bay horses (6)
Double definition? Cryptic definition? A ‘mount’ can be a horse, a ‘bay’ can also be a horse – that’s as far as I got |
| 17 | YTTRIUM |
Showing unusual maturity, but lacking a certain element (7)
(M[a]TURITY)* [* = unusual] |
| 21 | PAMELA |
She provides father with a cooked meal (6)
PA (father) + (MEAL)* [* = cooked] |
| 25 | BET |
Take a chance with the better half (3)
BET[ter] |
| 26 | CONFINED |
Fraudster punished and imprisoned (8)
CON (fraudster) + FINED (punished) |
| 27 | UNSUNG |
Such heroes are not celebrated (6)
Double / Cryptic definition – ‘unsung heroes’ |
| 28 | ORIGINAL |
First love in a girl is moving (8)
O (love) + (IN A GIRL)* [* = is moving] |
| 29 | LARIAT |
A trail that winds, there may be a catch in it (6)
(A TRAIL)* [* = (that) winds] |
| 30 | THEORIES |
There is nothing amiss in such speculations (8)
(THERE IS O (nothing))* [* = amiss] |
| 31 | STAYER |
A long-distance runner? (6)
(Not so) Cryptic definition |
| Down | ||
| 1 | FREE TIME |
Remit fee for no-working period (4,4)
(REMIT FEE)* [* = for] |
| 2 | RAVENOUS |
Very hungry creature that flies round the States (8)
RAVEN (creature that flies) + O (round) + US (the States) |
| 3 | IDENTITY |
It’s on the cards it might precede crisis (8)
There are ‘identity cards’, and the solution may also precede ‘crisis’ |
| 5 | BLONDE |
A member of the fair sex (6)
This is meant to be a Cryptic definition, I presume |
| 6 | DANGER |
Element of risk in garden design (6)
(GARDEN)* [* = design] |
| 7 | EIFFEL |
Creator of a well-known tour of Paris (6)
‘La Tour d’ Eiffel’, famous Paris landmark, created by (surprise surprise) Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923) |
| 8 | TURN TO |
Set to work with new tutor after assembly (4,2)
(N (new) + TUTOR)* [* = after assembly] |
| 12 | ALARMED |
Frightened, a student is ready to fight (7)
A + L (student) + ARMED (ready to fight) |
| 15 | STY |
Litter depositary? (3)
Cryptic definition Another cryptic definition that I didn’t think much of today. |
| 16 | CUP |
Prize piece of china? (3)
Double definition |
| 18 | MAINMAST |
Pole shows renewed stamina after Marathon start (8)
M[arathon] + (STAMINA)* [* = renewed] |
| 19 | SECURITY |
Guarantee financial asset (8)
Double definition |
| 20 | LAUGHTER |
Expression of disgust covered by subsequent hilarity (8)
UGH (expression of disgust) inside LATER (subsequent) |
| 22 | ACCOST |
Confront with small account charge (6)
AC (account, small i.e. abbreviated) + COST (charge) |
| 23 | IN TIME |
Later perhaps, but not too late (2,4)
Double definition |
| 24 | TINIER |
Row about batting less (6)
TIER (row) around IN (batting) |
| 25 | BEWARE |
Worker about to fight – watch out! (6)
BEE (worker) around WAR (to fight) |
Re 14a: Mount’s Bay is a large bay on the Channel coast of Cornwall.
1d I wasn’t happy with ‘for’ as an anagrind.
Thanks Sil and Dante.
Usual fare for the FT Monday prize made slightly harder by a grid ‘of four halves’.
As Pete points out, MOUNTS BAY is the bay in Cornwall in which St Michael’s Mount sits.
Otherwise, STAYER, BLONDE, and CUP all elicited an ‘is that it?’
But Dante is what he is, and we love him for it. Bless!
Thanks Dante and Sil
This was back to the mundane following the very entertaining puzzle that he presented a fortnight ago. All of the cryptic definitions were barely such today, which was a pity.
Solved it in two halves – top and bottom, one each in two short sittings. Finished in the SW with IN TIME, THEORIES and TINIER th last few in.
14a could not have been anything else but while I could see the horses, I couldn’t see the Bay bit at all so thanks to the Contributors for clearing up.