Mephisto 2810 by Paul McKenna

Author   dorsetjimboPosted on Categories Mephisto
A generally easy puzzle

Across
3 ALTOGETHER – ALTO-GET-HER;
10 ASSURE – ASS-URE;
11 RICARD – RI(CAR-d)D;
12 PEPPER – PEP-PER;
13 BRAD – B(reak)-RAD; excellent=RAD:
15 EMPERISE – (e premise)*;
16 TUART – marsupial=tuan then change “n” to “rt”=right; a tree;
17 END,USES – ENDU(S)ES; supplies=ENDUES;
19 APOCOPE – A-PO-COPE; chopping letters off the end of words;
24 ALAMEDA – A-LAME-DA; about=A; unfashionable=LAME; haircut=DA; walk is definition;
26 SEA,LARK – SEAL-ARK;
28 MAGOT – MAG(g)OT;
29 INCHOATE – (action he)*;
31 NEAT – two meanings 1=good 2=old bull;
32 STITCH – S(TIT)CH; tap=TIT;
33 DENOTE – DEN-OTE; dean in Dunoon=DEN; Or The Equivalent=OTE;
34 PENSEE – PEN-SEE; thought in Tolouse;
35 DRAMATURGE – DRAM-AT-URGE; AT=monetary unit in Laos=1/100th of a kip;
 
Down
1 CAPITAL,SIN – CAIN contains P(IT)ALS;
2 USED,UP – US-ED-UP; US from “the royal we”; thoroughly=UP;
3 ASPS – (w)ASPS;
4 LUPERCAL – (clear up l)*; Latin=l; a festival;
5 TREETOP – PO(TEER)T all reversed; spread=TEER;
6 GRAPNEL – GR-PANEL then move P=quiety; an anchor;
7 EIKED – (marriag)E-I-KED; fly=KED; made up in Motherwell;
8 HARISH – HAR(I)SH;
9 ERASER – ER-A-SER; sermon=SER; not to be confused with a rubber when over the pond;
14 DESPATCHED – DE(S-PATCH)ED; small=S;
18 UPMAKING – UP-M-sounds like “aching”;
20 PARAPET – PARA-PET;
21 LAMETER – LA(ME)TER; physically handicapped in Hamilton;
22 VENEER – (never)* surrounds E=earl;
23 JACANA – J-A(r)CANA; Japanese=J; a bird;
25 DOUCET – DO-(cut)* surrounds E; old sweet dish;
27 AORTA – A(O)RT-A;
30 FTSE – EST-F reversed; Latin for is=EST; forte=F; more a measure of level of demand than strength;

3 comments on “Mephisto 2810 by Paul McKenna”

  1. I’m not sure how easy or otherwise I found this, because I did it in bits and pieces throughout the week, and just finished the last third or so today. There were a couple I couldn’t parse: TUART and USED UP (I missed the ‘one royal’ bit) so thanks for clearing those up for me.
    I had the same thought as you about FTSE, but I figured that share prices are a reflection of the strength of the companies concerned (which largely means profits) as much as demand. They also reflect supply of course, although this changes much less significantly in the short term than demand or profits.
    1. I gave some thought to the FTSE and I came to the conclusion that the link between strength and price is tenuous at best. If demand far exceeds supply the price will rise rapidly leading to crazy p/e ratios that can’t be sustained. The reverse happens in a depression of course. Interesting isn’t it that one only really stops to consider these things when faced with a crossword clue!!
      1. I don’t think that’s entirely true. Of course the PE ratio is quite volatile in the short term but earnings certainly have an influence on share prices, and in the longer term they drive the index more than the PE ratio. For instance at the end of 2002 the index stood at 3940 on a PE of around 17. Today it stands at around 6700 on a PE of 14. This reflects higher earnings.
        For my sins I am called upon professionally to consider this sort of thing on an almost daily basis!

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