Not too much to blog about on this one. A couple of additions to the unusual words list, and a couple of clever clues, but not the most inspiring solve. I hope it was just me and others found it more enjoyable. I did not time myself accurately, but it was certainly well under 45 minutes.
I have left out a number of solutions, but if I have missed anything you need clarifying please let me know.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | INEXACTNESS – I,N,EXACT,NESS |
| 7 | PILGRIMAGES – P,IL,GRIM AGES. IL = 49 in Roman numerals, and GRIM AGES follows from Hard Times |
| 13 | JACKSNIPE – I had heard of the bird but thought it was normally two words |
| 14 | AIR PUMP – AIR, PU(t),M.P. |
| 16 | RUMMER – a type of drinking glass |
| 17 | UPPISHLY – (shy pupil)* |
| 18 | EVIDENT – EV(I.D.)ENT |
| 20 | PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE – (puny imbec(i)le)* followed by NUMBER ONE referring to a very short haircut. |
| 23 | PAINTED – PA((w)INTE(r))D |
| 24 | ROSIEST – O.R.(reversed),SIEST(a) |
| 28 | SPAN – S,N (players at the table) around P(lay),A, the whole meaning bridge. A very smooth surface |
| 29 | AMMONIAC – AMMO followed by CAIN reversed |
| 32 | OFFENSIVE – OFF,(p)ENSIVE |
| 35 | CHINAWARE – CHE(f) around IN A WAR |
| 39 | RANGERS – triple definition around British football (soccer) teams |
| 41 | IMPRESS – I,M,PRESS, with slay having the slang meaning to delight etc. |
| 44 | ORBITAL – BRO (rev), ITAL(y) |
| 45 | A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER – I’m not overly familiar with Sir John Mortimer’s work, but I had heard of this one |
| 49 | ARTISTE – Moz(ART IS TE)sting |
| 50 | PSALTERY – (players)* around T(his) |
| 51 | LAUREL – how many double acts come to mind? |
| 53 | GOGOL – GO,GO,L. GO = work so therefore GO,GO = works |
| 54 | BETTINA – BET,TIN,A. An unusual female name, at least in crossword terms |
| 55 | ABOUT TURN – A,BOUT,TURN. I’m not totally convinced by the parsing of the clue, although the answer is clear. The problem in my mind is the cluing for the word TURN |
| 56 | TEA CEREMONY – TEAC(h)ER, followed by (money)*. |
| 57 | FIDDLE-DE-DEE – FIDDLE,D(ED)EE |
| Down | |
| 1 | INJURY – I(s),N(ot),JURY |
| 2 | EXCOMMUNICATION – (lov)E,X,COMMUNICATION. Cleverly constructed clue |
| 3 | AUSTERLITZ – (I strut zeal)*. One of Napoleon Bonaparte’s greatest victories |
| 6 | STATISM – hidden in Jaque(S TATIS M)ovies. |
| 7 | PERCHANCE – PERCH ACE around N |
| 8 | LOUSY – double definition. |
| 10 | MAGNILOQUENT – (male,quoting,N)*. I had not heard this word before, although I was familiar with grandiloquent, which helped |
| 11 | GENOESE – GE(Gre(NO)ble)ESE |
| 12 | SHEATH – S(ocialist),HEATH. Ted Heath was Conservative UK Prime Minister from 1970 – 1974 |
| 19 | ACADEMIA – ACA = accountant followed by AIMED (reversed) |
| 21 | MATLOCK – MAT,(b)LOCK. I remember a Geography project on the Derbyshire dales, and school field trips to the area |
| 22 | INFERNAL – (inn fare)* + L. Not a difficult bit of anagramming to solve |
| 23 | PUSHCART – PUT around (crash)* |
| 25 | SOILS – S(OIL)S |
| 27 | THIN ON THE GROUND – an amusing double definition |
| 30 | OBELIZE – O,BELIZE. To mark with an obelus (†) indicating a possible error in editing/proof-reading |
| 33 | FACE OFFS – FA(CEO)FFS |
| 34 | MADEMOISELLE – MADE,M(O,I,SELL)E |
| 38 | ABSTRACTED – A,B(S,TRACT)ED |
| 40 | STAGEABLE – ST(AGE)ABLE. One of my last entries |
| 42 | PROFANITY – PROF,A,N(IT)Y |
| 43 | SAMARKAND – S(AM,ARK)AND |
| 45 | ANTIGUA – Ant = colonists, followed by AUG 1 reversed |
| 46 | NOT HALF – NO, FLAT reversed around H(ospital) |
| 47 | CAUGHT – C(hief),A,(thug)* |
| 48 | GLANCE – G,(lance)* |
| 50 | PUTTO – PUTT,O |
Thanks
Adrian Cobb
I’ll check in Chambers (don’t have it in the office) – which is what I should have done first, methinks!