Monday Prize Crossword/Jan 19
Fairly typical Dante puzzle with - rather unusual – one clue that seems sort of problematic to me (9ac).
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | HUBRIS | Shrub I cultivated with overconfidence (6) |
| (SHRUB I)* [* = cultivated] | ||
| 4 | AGONISED | Suffered, so gained redress (8) |
| (SO GAINED)* [* = redress] | ||
| 9 | PINED | Very good end that is longed for (5) |
| PI (very good) + (END)* [* = ……] | ||
| I am afraid I cannot see a proper anagram indicator here – a mistake? | ||
| 10 | IN RETREAT | Going back to reviewing one’s faith? (2,7) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 11 | ETERNAL | Learnt the third movement with lasting benefit (7) |
| (LEARNT + [th]E)* [* = movement] | ||
| 12 | AMATEUR | Non-professional from a dull back-street in Paris (7) |
| A + MAT (dull) + EUR (reversal (‘back-‘) of RUE, French for ‘street’) | ||
| 13 | EROS | His victims lose heart (4) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 14 | COMMENCE | Workers – a hundred – come out to set the ball rolling (8) |
| {MEN (workers) + C (a hundred)} with COME around it (‘out’) | ||
| 17 | FOOLSCAP | Paper hat for the dunce? (8) |
| Double definition | ||
| FOOLSCAP is also a paper size, that’s why I chose to go for a double definition. Others may perhaps see this clue as a kind of cryptic definition (as I did, initially) – although, how cryptic is that? | ||
| 19 | COKE | Drink may be approved in church (4) |
| OK (approved) inside CE (church) | ||
| 22 | BUCKLED | Securely fastened, but still crumpled (7) |
| Double definition | ||
| 24 | LOW GEAR | Maxi-skirt for hill-climbing? (3,4) |
| Double / Cryptic definition | ||
| 25 | THESAURUS | Reference book, therefore, about Jacob’s twin? Right! (9) |
| THUS (therefore) around {ESAU (Jacob’s twin) + R (right)} | ||
| 26 | LEASH | One may become attached to a dog because of it (5) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 27 | DISTENDS | Finishes after only half the distance and stretches out (8) |
| ENDS (finishes) coming after DIST[ance] | ||
| 28 | REVELS | Festivities involve a number in lively dances (6) |
| V (a number, 5) inside REELS (lively dances) | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | HAPPENED | Came about Daphne possibly taking exercise (8) |
| (DAPHNE)* around PE (exercise) [* = possibly] | ||
| 2 | BUNKED OFF | Beaten Kendo buff made a hurried departure (6,3) |
| (KENDO BUFF)* [* = beaten] | ||
| 3 | IODINE | God that is around for therapeutic purposes (6) |
| ODIN (God) with IE (that is) around it | ||
| 5 | GERMAN MEASLES | Illness arising from a nameless germ (6,7) |
| (A NAMELESS GERM)* [* = arising from] | ||
| 6 | NET GAIN | A fisherman’s actual profit? (3,4) |
| Double / Cryptic definition | ||
| 7 | SUEDE | Kid influenced by speech (5) |
| Homophone (‘by speech’) of: SWAYED (influenced) | ||
| SUEDE is undressed kidskin (kid leather, Kid). | ||
| 8 | DOTARD | Odd art-form for an old man (6) |
| (ODD ART)* [* = -form] | ||
| 10 | ILL-CONSIDERED | Not fit, thought to be rash (3-10) |
| ILL (not fit) + CONSIDERED (thought) | ||
| 15 | EXONERATE | Clear estimate follows former one (9) |
| RATE (estimate) coming after {EX (former) + ONE} | ||
| 16 | SEARCHES | Looks for and observes chief is inside (8) |
| SEES (observes) with ARCH (chief) inside | ||
| 18 | ON LEAVE | Not required for work, a number rise and depart (2,5) |
| ON (reversal (‘rise’) of NO (number, shortened)) + LEAVE (depart) | ||
| 20 | ABATED | Jack, given wrong date, weakened (6) |
| AB (Jack, a sailor) + (DATE)* [* = wrong] | ||
| 21 | TWELVE | Time when most strikes occur (6) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 23 | CREWS | Provided sailors for voyage in the sound (5) |
| Homophone (‘in the sound’) of: CRUISE (voyage) | ||
I’m really not a fan of Dante/Rufus crosswords. For me, a crossword should have a wide variety of clue types, but this setter rarely seems to offer these. The occasional cryptic definition is fine (they’re not the fairest clue type after all), but this setter’s puzzles contain so many it becomes a real slog.
Thanks Dante and Sil
I think that the style of Dante is one that you like or hate … there is not much middle ground with his work. I am of the former – although there can be some annoying little quirks with the cryptic definitions, it is usually outweighed by the subtle and mostly amusing wordplay that he uses in them.
Actually found this one slightly harder than his average puzzle, but still finished in just after the half hour mark.
Agree that PINED has come up short with the anagrind.