Mephisto 2778 by Don Manley

Author   dorsetjimboPosted on Categories Mephisto
Off to a fast start with 1A, 5A and 11A followed by the first five down clues in very short order. No major hold-ups after that for a good average puzzle. Some enlightenment needed at 7D please.

Across
1 SPRAT – TARPS reversed;
5 ABREAST – A-B-R-EAST; bishop=B; rector=R;
11 ECOCIDE – E-CO(CID)E; English=E;
13 AESC – A-ESC; a ligature;
14 BEDROPT – BED-R(evive)-OPT; very well indeed=OPT; covered with water droplets;
15 DEUTERANOPE – (one reputed)* surrounds A=one; problem with the eyes;
16 OARLAP – O(AR(i)L)AP; bit of seed=ARIL; a rabbit;
17 UNIPOD – UNI-POD;
18 SPETCH – S(PET)CH; hide;
24 UNHOOP – UN-HO-(c)OP; a foreign (french)=UN;
26 ANTRAL – ANT-RA(i)L; a cavity;
27 BOODIE – BOO(b)-DIE; a marsupial;
28 STRAP-HANGER – STR(A-PH)ANGER; reference journey on a crowded underground train;
30 PLATEAU – P(LATE)AU; a ladies hat;
31 ARCO – hidden (popl)AR-CO(ckneyish); a bow;
32 GAGENTS – SAG reversed surrounds GENT; noxious gases;
33 CRAB-OIL – (car)*-BOIL;
34 EASLE – EAS(L)E; hot ashes;
 
Down
1 SEA, MOSS – SEAM-O-SS;
2 ROSERED – (reredos)*;
3 ACCULTURATE – ACC(ULT)URATE; adapt to local conditions;
4 TIETAC – TE(ETA)C; a tie pin;
6 BEER-UP – PUB reversed contains EER; ;
7 REDANS – RE-DANS I think; about=RE; classical things proficient fighter has=DANS; I don’t see the rest of the construction;
8 ALOO – A-LOO;
9 SAPPORO – SAP(P)OR-O; flavour=SAPOR; Japanese city;
10 TOTED – TO-TED; reference Teddy Boys of 1950s – good to see them not described as thugs;
12 ORNITHOGAEA – (a hot region a)*; biological region;
19 PANTLER – P-ANTLER;
20 MODERNS – (spend more – PE)*;
21 OPEROSE – OP-EROSE; worn down=EROSE; tedious;
22 SAPEGO – SAP-EGO; skin complaint;
23 ALHAGI – (d)AL(HAG)I; shrubs;
25 NONAGE – NON(A-G)E; early life;
26 ASPIC – two meanings; 1=old word for snake 2=lavender;
29 RANA – two meanings; 1=prince 2=frogs;

2 comments on “Mephisto 2778 by Don Manley”

  1. Re7dn: RES is classical things (it being latin for “thing”) and it is about the proficient fighter.. a redan being “a fortification of two parapets at a salient angle”

    Res turns up a lot in legalese latin, eg res ipsa loquitur “the thing or matter speaks for itself”

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