Mephisto 2780 by Paul McKenna

Author   dorsetjimboPosted on Categories Mephisto
Very easy puzzle that did not require Chambers whilst solving

Across
1 DJEBEL – D(J)EBEL – J from J(aguar); old word for crush=DEBEL; Arabic for a mountain;
6 SADIST – S-A-DIST; strangeness=S (quantum physics);
12 XEROGRAPHY – (gear proxy h=husband)*; basis of the photocopier that replaced carbon paper and Roneo machines;
13 ARTS – (he)ARTS; tricks is definition;
14 NASTIER – RAN reversed surrounds STIE=sty-3=to mount;
15 BARYTES – BA(RY)TES; diminishes=BATES; barium sulphate;
18 ELITE – TILE reversed – E;
20 SPIKE – three meanings 1=frustrate; 2=anglo-catholic; 3=Spike Milligan;
22 HIAWATHA – HI-A-WAT-HA; helped to found the Iroquois Confederacy;
24 AESTHETE – AT(ESTHE(r))E; Esther is book in Hebrew Bible;
25 EDICT – E-DICT; tablet=E; DICT=dictionary; E-DICT might be an on-line Chambers;
27 SMEAR – S(M)EAR;
30 TERENCE – (centre + e)*; not keen on “another repitition” for “e”; Roman funny man;
32 AUDITOR – AUDI-TOR;
33 VICE – V-ICE;
34 LINEAMENTS – (isnt enamel)*; lines on faces;
35 SNARLY – irritable=snarky then “k” is “stepped forward” to give L; in a crabby way is definition;
36 DIRHAM – RID reversed – HAM; bread is slang for money;
 
Down
2 JURAL – J-URAL; Journal=J; the URALS are in Kazakhistan; of law is the definition;
3 EXTRINSIC – EX-TRIN-SIC; examination=EX; triplet=TRIN; foreign is definition;
4 ERST – (v)ERST; see=v; verst=measure of length;
5 LONELIES – L-ONE-(islet)*;
7 ARSES – AR(S)ES; S from S(omething); plural of arsis=lift;
8 DATE,PALM – DATE-PALM; bribe=PALM;
9 SHEIKHA – S(HE)IKH-A; Academy=A;
10 TYRE – two meanings 1=circular cushion 2=city;
11 ZABETA – ZA-BETA; South African=ZA; a tariff;
16 SMATTERED – S-MATTERED; S from S(howmanship);
17 KITTENISH – (thinks tie)*; Brigitte Bardot;
19 TETCHIER – T(ETCH)IER;
21 BEDOUIN – BED-OUI-N; and=N;
23 AFREET – AF(REE)T; place to keep coal=REE; demon;
26 TOTAL – two meanings 1=completely destroy 2=French oil and gas company;
28 ACCRA – AC-CR-A;
29 GALS – GA(L)S; L from (eng)L(and);
31 RANI – country=Iran then move “I” to give RANI;

5 comments on “Mephisto 2780 by Paul McKenna”

  1. I saw your note at the head, and decided to give it a go over lunch at my desk (w/o dictionary). Finished all excpet DJEBEL, JURAL, ZABETA AND BARYTES (where I had PYRITES? pencilled in. I don’t think I could have finished without reference.

    Still, it was easier than yesterday’s Sunday Times cryptic, which has defeated me so far!

    1. Well done you. Now that you’ve had a taster perhaps you’ll try again on one that’s a bit more representative.
  2. Yes, pretty easy, although I did use Chambers. I probably needed it less than usual but always look the funny words up anyway. Thanks for explaining 4dn: I couldn’t figure it out. Likewise the K -> R device in 35ac. I was also curious to see Spike Milligan described as an “Anglo-Catholic comedian”!

    Edited at 2013-12-16 09:58 pm (UTC)

  3. Catching up late on this one – I managed most while I was plugged in to a torture device at the physical therapist. There was a nasty repurcussion to this, now everyone there brings me their unfinished crosswords (all of the American variety) to get help on while I’m being tortured. Oh well…

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