Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
Analysis
Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar.
Ridiculous (anagram indicator) rearranges two hours pay is on to what's your poison?
Aesthetics
A straight forward clue - this has a smooth reading to it.What makes it stand out is the definition which once again goes to show how efficacious the setter is.
Afterword
Phrases are regularly featured in cryptic crosswords.They provide opportunities for some neat definitions.The next series of clues will be about phrases.
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
British Rail in a struggle to find lender
British = BR
BR + rail + in a becomes the wordplay to be manipulated ( indicated by the anagram indicator struggle ) to become LIBRARIAN which fits nicely with the definition of a lender.
Aesthetics
The clue could almost be a newspaper headline in these hard times.
Afterword
British can be substituted by B , Br, GB or UK . The crossword solver will become familiar with a whole slew of abbreviations in the course of solving hundreds of crosswords.
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N
Analysis
Labour Party unlikely to split?
You will notice that the above clue is left as it originally was without recourse to splitting it up into definition,link and wordplay.
This is because the clue is entirely a definition as well as wordplay.I am unsure as to whether it qualifies as &lit.
Answer is Chain Gang.
Aesthetics
This clue epitomises neat definitions.The image of a bunch of prisoners manacled and doing hard labour outside prison comes to mind when you get the answer.Its a world away from politics and yet there is a genuine connection when labour and party are both capitalised.
Afterword
Pure &lits are hard to come by.Partial ones are more common.Yet in the above clue there is no wordplay in the classic sense.So its probably the hardest to solve among the three.
Jay
Showing posts with label definitions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label definitions. Show all posts
Monday, October 11, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Neat Definitions 3
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
D. Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates. (9) _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates.
With an O present in the answer, it is likely the word OP which stands in for Work. A Cause can be substituted(!) by Element. OP in ELEMENT gives us ELOPEMENT which is what running mates aim for!
Aesthetics
The surface reading is tight.On the first reading,you would think of running mates as those who are vice-presidential candidates in an upcoming election.This is because work in a cause reinforces the impression of people committing themselves publicly to win an election.
Afterword
The hardest feature in the clue is the substitution of a cause with element.This synonym is uncommon and not all thesauruses have it. Are they truly interchangeable? Can you construct a sentence where either word can be used without changing the meaning of the sentence?If you can, do share.
E. How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely? (10) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely?
There are several types of reactors, among which breeder might catch your eye.Reproducing is breeding.And reproducing relatively closely would qualify as inbreeding.
Aesthetics
The phrase of how a reactor may be occupied suggests that the answer is connected with its function - since occupied hints at what it does. The answer to this phrase is " in breeding" since its a breeder reactor.The wordplay portion is a definition of sorts. Hence the clue comes under "double definitions" category. The neat definition, however, is reproducing relatively closely which is a nifty way of describing "inbreeding".The setter separates in from breeding to fashion the wordplay portion with just five words coming up with an alternative definition!
Afterword
Notice that the setter used may be instead of "is".The first expresses possibility while the second expresses certainty.Because there are a few types of reactors, he cannot use "is". Only the breeder reactor fits the wordplay perfectly.The clue is fair to the solver in that may be is a pointer to looking up the range of reactors. From that range, the solver can narrow down a candidate which fits nicely with the definition.
F. Check plant for new life. (13) _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Check plant for new life.
Check = Rein and Plant = Carnation
New Life = Reincarnation
Aesthetics
Reincarnation is the rebirth of a soul in a new body."Start a new life" is a term commonly used after a big change in one's life. Think about it! The biggest change to one's life is death. Then you start a new life - which is precisely what reincarnation is. This neat definition is a vivid example of exaptation - a term mostly used in evolutionary biology. Two sets of words, previously unconnected, find new life in one another!
Afterword
The substitution of plant with carnation will tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads in some quarters.
After all, carnation is an example of a plant. The clue should have read plant,say or plant, for example.
Look at clue E where "may be" qualified the accuracy of the definition.
Here there is no such qualification. Is this valid? I would say so.
Over time, the presence of words like plant,tree,bird,fish,dog,cat,bone,etc in clues has come to imply that what the setter is asking for as a substitute is an example.
So regular crossword solvers no longer tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads.They hunker down and open up their crossword dictionaries to look for suitable substitutes.
Here is the final triplet of neat definitions.
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N _
Jay
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
D. Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates. (9) _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates.
With an O present in the answer, it is likely the word OP which stands in for Work. A Cause can be substituted(!) by Element. OP in ELEMENT gives us ELOPEMENT which is what running mates aim for!
Aesthetics
The surface reading is tight.On the first reading,you would think of running mates as those who are vice-presidential candidates in an upcoming election.This is because work in a cause reinforces the impression of people committing themselves publicly to win an election.
Afterword
The hardest feature in the clue is the substitution of a cause with element.This synonym is uncommon and not all thesauruses have it. Are they truly interchangeable? Can you construct a sentence where either word can be used without changing the meaning of the sentence?If you can, do share.
E. How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely? (10) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely?
There are several types of reactors, among which breeder might catch your eye.Reproducing is breeding.And reproducing relatively closely would qualify as inbreeding.
Aesthetics
The phrase of how a reactor may be occupied suggests that the answer is connected with its function - since occupied hints at what it does. The answer to this phrase is " in breeding" since its a breeder reactor.The wordplay portion is a definition of sorts. Hence the clue comes under "double definitions" category. The neat definition, however, is reproducing relatively closely which is a nifty way of describing "inbreeding".The setter separates in from breeding to fashion the wordplay portion with just five words coming up with an alternative definition!
Afterword
Notice that the setter used may be instead of "is".The first expresses possibility while the second expresses certainty.Because there are a few types of reactors, he cannot use "is". Only the breeder reactor fits the wordplay perfectly.The clue is fair to the solver in that may be is a pointer to looking up the range of reactors. From that range, the solver can narrow down a candidate which fits nicely with the definition.
F. Check plant for new life. (13) _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Check plant for new life.
Check = Rein and Plant = Carnation
New Life = Reincarnation
Aesthetics
Reincarnation is the rebirth of a soul in a new body."Start a new life" is a term commonly used after a big change in one's life. Think about it! The biggest change to one's life is death. Then you start a new life - which is precisely what reincarnation is. This neat definition is a vivid example of exaptation - a term mostly used in evolutionary biology. Two sets of words, previously unconnected, find new life in one another!
Afterword
The substitution of plant with carnation will tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads in some quarters.
After all, carnation is an example of a plant. The clue should have read plant,say or plant, for example.
Look at clue E where "may be" qualified the accuracy of the definition.
Here there is no such qualification. Is this valid? I would say so.
Over time, the presence of words like plant,tree,bird,fish,dog,cat,bone,etc in clues has come to imply that what the setter is asking for as a substitute is an example.
So regular crossword solvers no longer tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads.They hunker down and open up their crossword dictionaries to look for suitable substitutes.
Here is the final triplet of neat definitions.
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N _
Jay
Friday, September 24, 2010
Neat Definitions 2
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clue A : Water-colour production from painter using East End location (7)
Analysis
Water-colour production from painter using East End location.
Painter = RA (see 9Down write-up in Crossword 1 Answers Explanation Posting)
Using East End location will take up the remaining 5 letters.This particular location in East End should be 3 lettered.
This is because at least 2 letters are needed for "using". Let's say the location is called ZZZ. Then "using ZZZ" can be "at ZZZ" or "in ZZZ". Since RA is next to it, IN seems the better choice. So we have RAINZZZ. When we see RAIN and water-colour, we will be able to reach RAINBOW. You can check to verify that Bow is part of East End, London.
Aesthetics
The art motif is used in the definition as well as the wordplay and this enhances the surface reading of the clue.Water-colour is a common enough term but when used in this context , it is elevated and becomes inextricably linked with rainbow, one of Nature's mysterious creations.
Afterword
Below is the image of a double rainbow in a watercolour painting by a master of the form, John Constable.
Constable painted directly from Nature.When he did this painting, the sun would have been behind him. Just this fact would have been sufficient for anyone to connect the sun behind, the rain in front - with the eventual appearance of a rainbow in front of an observer.
Yet it took until 1666, the "annus mirabilis" to understand the connection.No less a wizard than Newton ( superb in theoretical, mathematical and experimental physics ) solved the mystery in his masterpiece "Opticks".
To Newton, Nature offered the ultimate treasure hunt for the natural philosopher.
William Blake, mystic poet, lamented the solving of this and other mysteries. John Keats famously said that Newton had "unweaved" the rainbow, thus robbing it of its beauty.But his later words " Beauty is Truth, truth beauty" acknowledged that such unweaving had exposed pure beauty.How would a modern day Constable have painted the rainbow? Maybe the picture below can give a hint.
This was the image that prompted me to pen a clue for the word "Pelangi" (rainbow in the Malay language) in a treasure hunt circa 2002.
Your head blocks the sun from its centre.
Of course, no definition is needed in a treasure hunt clue, since the answers are out there! To understand why the clue fits, you can read about it here.
Clue B : Provider of a big bang? Possibly, it's supersonic! (13)
Analysis
Provider of a big bang? Possibly, it's supersonic!
Possibly is the anagram indicator.And it's supersonic has 13 letters.Rearranging them, we have percussionist.
Percussion instruments are that family of instruments which musicians beat or strike to produce sound.And that certainly fits the definition provided.
Aesthetics
Once again we spot a connection between definition and wordplay.A supersonic (transport) produces a sonic boom (big bang) when it crosses the sound barrier.Also, we have one of those delightful anagrams where a derived word is paired smoothly with the definition. It is simple and satisfying.
Afterword
The anagram indicator is a staple in cryptic crosswords and hunts.In Crossword 2 , you would have seen that there were 12 of them.As a rule, when that many anagrams occur in a single setting, you can consider the puzzle to be easy and doable for beginners.
Even in difficult crosswords, the humble anagram indicator appears in at least a couple of clues.They are familiar faces you are glad to spot at a party that's full of forbidding strangers.You start a conversation with them before you get an intro to their immediate neighbours.
Hence anagram indicators are important that way - not terribly sexy like the other cold beauties around - hey, but you gotta start somewhere!
Some setters make it even more difficult for you at their party by disguising their anagram indicators with exotic garb, like at a masked ball.Hopefully, you see through the charade and recognize that familiar face.Don't take them for granted.Take up their kind offer and work your way through the room.Of course, there are those supremely confident playboys who start anywhere and before you know it, they're off to another party!
Clue C : Revising at a blue-chip university leaving with a first. etc (10)
Analysis
Revising at a blue-chip university leaving with a first. etc
Revising is a familiar face.Yes, its an anagram indicator. The answer requires 10 letters but at a blue-chip has 11 letters.So one needs to leave and that one is u which is a short form for university.This is confirmed by the remaining portion of the wordplay which is university leaving. So then we revise ATABLECHIP to ALPHABETIC. This word suggests a particular order of letters starting with A, then B and so on - which fits nicely with the pithy a first, etc.
Aesthetics
In the context of this clue, first is the equivalent of a first-class honours, indicating high achievement and ability.This is the meaning your mind would impart to that word , since it concatenates with revising and blue-chip.
Other than standing in as a dependable anagram indicator, revising is also linked to the drudgery of studying and re-studying.And that, too at a blue-chip university, no less.So you study hard at a top uni and deservedly get a first-class honours.Great! That's what is definitely in your brain when you first read the clue.
Afterword
Etc is usually part of the wordplay in most clues.This is one of the few times it appears in a definition.Another thing that throws beginners off is that when you read the clue, "a" is pronounced as the article and not the letter.So it takes some amount of mental gymnastics to shift gears to treating it in letter-mode.Your brain will get to treat "a" in both modes after revising CONSTANTLY.Another lesson here is the substitution of words like university with a single letter. There are a whole lot of them out there and it takes time get familiar with all of them.
And to finish off this posting here is another triplet of neat definitions.
D. Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates. (9) _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _
E. How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely? (10) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _
F. Check plant for new life. (13) _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Give them a go and if you think you've got 'em, do send your answers to [email protected].
Jay
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clue A : Water-colour production from painter using East End location (7)
Analysis
Water-colour production from painter using East End location.
Painter = RA (see 9Down write-up in Crossword 1 Answers Explanation Posting)
Using East End location will take up the remaining 5 letters.This particular location in East End should be 3 lettered.
This is because at least 2 letters are needed for "using". Let's say the location is called ZZZ. Then "using ZZZ" can be "at ZZZ" or "in ZZZ". Since RA is next to it, IN seems the better choice. So we have RAINZZZ. When we see RAIN and water-colour, we will be able to reach RAINBOW. You can check to verify that Bow is part of East End, London.
Aesthetics
The art motif is used in the definition as well as the wordplay and this enhances the surface reading of the clue.Water-colour is a common enough term but when used in this context , it is elevated and becomes inextricably linked with rainbow, one of Nature's mysterious creations.
Afterword
Below is the image of a double rainbow in a watercolour painting by a master of the form, John Constable.
Yet it took until 1666, the "annus mirabilis" to understand the connection.No less a wizard than Newton ( superb in theoretical, mathematical and experimental physics ) solved the mystery in his masterpiece "Opticks".
To Newton, Nature offered the ultimate treasure hunt for the natural philosopher.
William Blake, mystic poet, lamented the solving of this and other mysteries. John Keats famously said that Newton had "unweaved" the rainbow, thus robbing it of its beauty.But his later words " Beauty is Truth, truth beauty" acknowledged that such unweaving had exposed pure beauty.How would a modern day Constable have painted the rainbow? Maybe the picture below can give a hint.
This was the image that prompted me to pen a clue for the word "Pelangi" (rainbow in the Malay language) in a treasure hunt circa 2002.
Your head blocks the sun from its centre.
Of course, no definition is needed in a treasure hunt clue, since the answers are out there! To understand why the clue fits, you can read about it here.
Clue B : Provider of a big bang? Possibly, it's supersonic! (13)
Analysis
Provider of a big bang? Possibly, it's supersonic!
Possibly is the anagram indicator.And it's supersonic has 13 letters.Rearranging them, we have percussionist.
Percussion instruments are that family of instruments which musicians beat or strike to produce sound.And that certainly fits the definition provided.
Aesthetics
Once again we spot a connection between definition and wordplay.A supersonic (transport) produces a sonic boom (big bang) when it crosses the sound barrier.Also, we have one of those delightful anagrams where a derived word is paired smoothly with the definition. It is simple and satisfying.
Afterword
The anagram indicator is a staple in cryptic crosswords and hunts.In Crossword 2 , you would have seen that there were 12 of them.As a rule, when that many anagrams occur in a single setting, you can consider the puzzle to be easy and doable for beginners.
Even in difficult crosswords, the humble anagram indicator appears in at least a couple of clues.They are familiar faces you are glad to spot at a party that's full of forbidding strangers.You start a conversation with them before you get an intro to their immediate neighbours.
Hence anagram indicators are important that way - not terribly sexy like the other cold beauties around - hey, but you gotta start somewhere!
Some setters make it even more difficult for you at their party by disguising their anagram indicators with exotic garb, like at a masked ball.Hopefully, you see through the charade and recognize that familiar face.Don't take them for granted.Take up their kind offer and work your way through the room.Of course, there are those supremely confident playboys who start anywhere and before you know it, they're off to another party!
Clue C : Revising at a blue-chip university leaving with a first. etc (10)
Analysis
Revising at a blue-chip university leaving with a first. etc
Revising is a familiar face.Yes, its an anagram indicator. The answer requires 10 letters but at a blue-chip has 11 letters.So one needs to leave and that one is u which is a short form for university.This is confirmed by the remaining portion of the wordplay which is university leaving. So then we revise ATABLECHIP to ALPHABETIC. This word suggests a particular order of letters starting with A, then B and so on - which fits nicely with the pithy a first, etc.
Aesthetics
In the context of this clue, first is the equivalent of a first-class honours, indicating high achievement and ability.This is the meaning your mind would impart to that word , since it concatenates with revising and blue-chip.
Other than standing in as a dependable anagram indicator, revising is also linked to the drudgery of studying and re-studying.And that, too at a blue-chip university, no less.So you study hard at a top uni and deservedly get a first-class honours.Great! That's what is definitely in your brain when you first read the clue.
Afterword
Etc is usually part of the wordplay in most clues.This is one of the few times it appears in a definition.Another thing that throws beginners off is that when you read the clue, "a" is pronounced as the article and not the letter.So it takes some amount of mental gymnastics to shift gears to treating it in letter-mode.Your brain will get to treat "a" in both modes after revising CONSTANTLY.Another lesson here is the substitution of words like university with a single letter. There are a whole lot of them out there and it takes time get familiar with all of them.
And to finish off this posting here is another triplet of neat definitions.
D. Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates. (9) _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _
E. How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely? (10) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _
F. Check plant for new life. (13) _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Give them a go and if you think you've got 'em, do send your answers to [email protected].
Jay
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Neat Definitions
One of the first things that a cryptic crossword solver checks for in a clue is where the definition lies. Is it at the front or at the back of the clue? Any clue that yields to such analysis can be broken reasonably fast. One has now to solve the wordplay portion to confirm what the actual answer is.
However, there will be times when the definition is difficult to ascertain. In such a case your only path forward is to crack the wordplay and see if it fits in with the obscure OR neat definition.We wont talk about obscure definitions at this point. Instead , let me tell you about some NEAT definitions I have come across.
By NEAT , I mean "elegant" or "stylish". You will not see any of these neat definitions in a dictionary or thesaurus. Definitions that are so deceptive - yet accurate.They come up infrequently. But when they do - you get a glimpse of the creativity of the crossword setters.
And most impressively, old and familiar words sparkle again as if they have been given a good scrubbing from head to toe, pressed into their best suits and are now standing in front of you with erect posture.
No longer are they possessed of slouchiness and flaccidity - the natural consequence of over-exposure in the media!
Here are three clues which illustrate what I mean by neat definition.See if you can crack them.
A. Water-colour production from painter using East End location? (7) _ _ _ _ _ O _
B. Provider of a big bang? Possibly, it's supersonic! (13) _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Revising at a blue-chip university leaving with a first, etc (10) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _
You can send your answers to [email protected]
You're also welcome to share with all our readers any NEAT definitions you have come across.
Jay.
However, there will be times when the definition is difficult to ascertain. In such a case your only path forward is to crack the wordplay and see if it fits in with the obscure OR neat definition.We wont talk about obscure definitions at this point. Instead , let me tell you about some NEAT definitions I have come across.
By NEAT , I mean "elegant" or "stylish". You will not see any of these neat definitions in a dictionary or thesaurus. Definitions that are so deceptive - yet accurate.They come up infrequently. But when they do - you get a glimpse of the creativity of the crossword setters.
And most impressively, old and familiar words sparkle again as if they have been given a good scrubbing from head to toe, pressed into their best suits and are now standing in front of you with erect posture.
No longer are they possessed of slouchiness and flaccidity - the natural consequence of over-exposure in the media!
Here are three clues which illustrate what I mean by neat definition.See if you can crack them.
A. Water-colour production from painter using East End location? (7) _ _ _ _ _ O _
B. Provider of a big bang? Possibly, it's supersonic! (13) _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Revising at a blue-chip university leaving with a first, etc (10) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _
You can send your answers to [email protected]
You're also welcome to share with all our readers any NEAT definitions you have come across.
Jay.
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