A satisfying solve this morning with a dependably good challenge from Velia.
Almost a pangram but not quite – just missing Q and Z. I enjoyed the contronyms. A couple of solutions required general knowledge which I assume won’t be known to all but generally a fair puzzle with a good mix of clue types. Thanks to Velia!
A contronym
A contronym
Cryptic definition (E. KANT = (TAKEN)* (*off))
A contronym
(TORY CON M[e]N heartlessly)* (*misbehaving)
Refers to the 5 clues where the solution has two opposite meanings
[ou]TW[it] [ch]EE[ky] (central characters)
[wiscon]SIN A TRA[ditional] (in)
GENE (Wilder) + [p]RIC[e] (without limits)
A contronym
WASH (clean) + B[ath] (first); then put in SUCKLING (youngster)
A contronym
EH (what) secured (JAIL)* (*break)
[prof]LIGATE (rake, scratching professor)
(DENSE FEW)* (*idiotic)
STICK (club) taking in H (hot)
“broadcast” “NEW KING” (what Charles may be soon)
(NOTE)* (*wrong) by R (right)
OF (related to) FENCE (dealer in stolen goods)
(THE ALARM NHS WARD DOC)* (*set off)
EVA (Ms Braun) + CUATE (“reported” gulf state, sounds like “Kuwait”)
V[irus] (onset of) in BEAN (pulse); first NYE (“nigh”, said “close”)
[b]EMUS[e] (perplex, wingless)
Cryptic definition, referring to Hamlet Act IV scene 4:
Led by this army of such mass and charge, / Led by a delicate and tender Prince . . . to all that fortune, death and danger dare, / Even for an eggshell.
Double definition
CHOP (axe) + H (hotel) + OUSE (river)
UR (you are “said) to chase X (kiss) and (FEEL)* (*bad) going round
(GIN, IT)* (*cocktail) on [s]E[ptember] (second of)
(DEGAS)< (<rising artist) taking in the [wes]T (end)
[aboli]SH KIS[sing]< (locking, <up)
I wasnt expecting this great puzzle from Velia this morning.
Great mini-theme.So well clued and thought out.
Great to see NYE BEVAN there
Thanks to teacow and Velia(aka Matilda?)
Made swift progress through this pleasing Monday puzzle but drew a blank at 8D (well before my time) and 21D which was new to me. Thanks to the eminently parsable CONTRONYM, l also learned the correct name for those clues I enjoyed most today. Other favourites were 2D, 5D and 6/15D. Thanks Velia and Teacow.
This splendid puzzle with such an original ‘theme’ should have been a Saturday Prize Crossword (well, in the days that we had them).
Really enjoyable crossword, one not be overlooked.
Many thanks to Teacow & Velia.
The most enjoyable of the crosswords I’d solved today (5 so far!) – I particularly liked the 12as
Thanks to Velia and Teacow
I did like 9a and 2d, as well as the ‘contronym’ theme when I eventually saw it. A fairly difficult but very enjoyable puzzle for me. Thanks to Teacow for explaining the relevance of Hamlet.
CONTRONYM was a new term for me but it was obvious from the parsing; it’s meaning was obvious as well and it added depth to an already good crossword. Favorites were NUKING and GENERIC. Missed NYE BEVANS and SWASHBUCKLING. Thanks Velia and Teacow.
The hardest cryptic for me today (have solved the Graun, the DT, and a Times one(though a few weeks old). Solved the contronym at 1a right away)
Thanks Velia and Teacow
Terrific puzzle to start off the week with a concept that I was quite aware of, but didn’t know the name of it – CONTRONYM … hmmm.
It actually took longer to complete than one of the later in the week puzzles which is always a pleasant surprise and particularly liked the construction of the four person clues at 19a, 2d, 7d and 8d – all with varying degrees of difficulty in working them out. Thought that the anagram at 6,15 was also excellent.
Finished with a couple of the themed words in the NE corner, the clever LIGATE with the difficult NYE BEVAN (who I have come across before as “the father of the NHS’) as the last one in.