Solving Time: About 1hr 10m, though I’m usually in no great hurry. Most annoyingly however, the Crossword Club website claims I have one wrong. I see no typos; maybe doing the blog will uncover the culprit. (Later: it did, see 19dn).
cd = cryptic definition, dd = double definition, rev = reversed, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as *(–)
Across | |
---|---|
1 | impi – puck = IMP + I. Impi are familiar from such sources as Zulu, or the Flashman series of historical diaries. Flashman was of course present at both Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana |
3 |
atramental – A dry animal’s skin = A TT A( |
10 |
slammakin – rap = SLAM + MAKIN( |
11 | jooks – Scottish sweetheart = JO + passes = OK’S. |
12 | elytral – measure once = ELL containing creative = ARTY, rev. |
13 |
onycha – horseman = ( |
15 | milites gloriosi – *(I limit GI roles so). An unfamiliar (to me) word for a familiar role, in the style of eg. Shakespeare’s Falstaff |
18 | eleutherophobia – energy = E + field = LEA, containing UTHER (Pendragon, father of King Arthur), cooker = HOB and work = OP. |
21 | sepmag – yawns = GAPES rev., containing M = introduction to maths |
23 | tsaddiq – T (time) + SAD (dejected) + DI (Detective Inspector) + Q = question |
26 |
afear – distantly = AFAR containing ( |
27 |
zamindari – Z( |
28 |
pasquilers – warrant = PASS containing QUIL( |
29 | smit – TIMS rev., eg Tim Curry & Sir Tim Rice. |
Down | |
1 | Ijsselmeer – one jibe = I + JEER containing M + LESS, rev. I had trouble with this one, which I found a right nuisance to spell, frankly. Also the wordplay is not as crystal clear as is usual here. Is “upright” really a synonym for “reversed?” I shall speak out fearlessly, and say: no, it jolly well isn’t. Not so = less also seemed just a bit iffy, though on reflection it does work I think. not so heavy = less heavy, for example. Anyway, much is forgiven because the Ijsselmeer and its associated works are so remarkable, one of the greatest engineering feats of the human race. if we still did Wonders of the world, they would surely be one of them. Oh but I forgot, here in crosswordland, engineer usually = “mechanic.” Also I note that in this absurd competition it was not even mentioned. |
2 |
peavy – power = P + ( |
4 | tokoloshe – commonest word = THE containing *(SO LOOK) |
5 | amnio – even letters of bAtMaN and rObIn converging, ie with the OI rev. An informal shortening of amniocentesis, and surely a very cleverly constructed clue. |
6 | enjoyer – contrary republican view = EYE + R containing denial = NO containing judge = J. so, E(N(J)O)YER |
7 | toothcomb – burial place = TOMB containing CH + TOO, rev. |
8 |
lisk – a hazard = RISK, with the R( |
9 | amoret – hidden, rev., in intricaTE ROMAntic. |
14 |
sinarquist – evil = SIN + T( |
16 | liegeless – stories = LIES containing set = GEL + tablets = ES, an E being this month’s drug reference. One E, two Es… |
17 | lion-tamer – *(IN REAL TOM) |
19 | timarau – war-god = TIU containing to harm a = MAR A. It seems this is the one I got wrong. I had tamarau, tau being an evil south American spirit. But not strictly a war god, unlike Tiu, who rather irritatingly is listed in Chambers only under Tiw but is more generally known as Tyr and anyway was god of the skies according to wiki, and only war god on the side, along with Odin. And the buffalo can be spelt either way. Hmph. What use is a war god who can’t even spell his own name? |
20 | hyaena – ANY H rev., containing A + E |
22 |
gazal – GAZ( |
24 | dwalm – doctor = MD containing litigation = LAW, all rev. |
25 | jaup – magistrate = JP containing gold = AU, (and not, on this occasion, OR). |
I was quite happy with “upright” in 1dn, arguably better than “reversed” in a down clue.
I’m familiar with TIU from his day, even though that’s spelled differently again. The French and Italian versions (mardi and martedi) are more obviously related to the Roman war god.