Mephisto 2892 by Don Manley

Author   dorsetjimboPosted on Categories Mephisto
Second simple puzzle on the trot

Across
4 INSECTARY – IN-SEC(re)TARY; worker=bee or ant;
10 ORANT – O-RANT; worshipping figure;
11 OUTPRAY – (rapt you)*;
12 NASTIC – (antics)*;
13 REMISE – REM(IS)E; surrender;
14 FRONDOSE – FRO(N)DO-SE(en); N from (terrai)N; hobbit=FRODO (Baggins); leafy;
16 EMERY – EME-RY; old uncle=EME;
18 NIDNOD – DON-DIN reversed; keep nodding;
19 PECORA – PE(COR)A; wow!=COR!; ruminants;
21 SALOOP – SALOO(n)-P; drink;
24 COCKER – two meanings 1=dog 2=(male to male) term of endearment so not quite “pet”;
28 GO,APE – G(O)APE;
29 RETICLES – (recites)* surrounds L; sets of lines;
30 ALIYAH – I-LA reversed-HAY reversed; look!=LA!; dance=HAY; take trip to Israel;
31 SDAINE – S-DA(I)NE; old word for contempt;
32 LAND-RAT – LAN(e)-DRAT;
33 AGRIN – (ch)AGRIN;
34 PROXIMATE – PR(O-X)IMATE;
 
Down
1 CONDENSER – CON-DENSE-R;
2 URAEMIA – U-(area)* surrounds MI; accumulation of waste;
3 BASTED – B(o)ASTED;
4 INTER,NOS – INTERN(O)S;
5 SOCRED – SOC-RED; socialist=SOC; Canadian party;
6 EURO-MP – E-U-ROMP;
7 CTENE – C(TEN)E; sort of organ;
8 ARIOSO – ARIOS(t)O; piece of music;
9 RASSE – hidden (regula)R-ASSE(ssments);
15 EGAREMENT – (meet anger)*; confusion;
17 ACCORAGE – ACCOR(d)-AGE; old word for cheer;
20 REPUNIT – (punter)* surrounds I; 999 for example – the dots in the clue aren’t needed;
22 LATINO – (p)LAT(IN)O;
23 PELHAM – (help)*-AM; (horse) bit; also NY subway train in Walter Matthau film;
24 CUESTA – CUES-TA; a ridge;
25 KAFIRI – KA(FIR)I; nosh in New Zealand=KAI; Afghan;
26 VELAR – V-(RALE reversed); from the back of the tongue;
27 ACARI – I-RACA reversed; worthless=RACA; mites;

7 comments on “Mephisto 2892 by Don Manley”

  1. Not difficult but I got a bit stuck in the NW corner for some reason. I should have got EME from ‘uncle’ immediately, but I couldn’t quite bring the right term to mind.
    1. Drives you mad when you know these little words but can’t get them to the front of the memory banks – getting worse as I age
  3. Interesting puzzle – not too difficult but it was an odd grid – the 90 degree symmetry and large cross in the middle made it feel like four mini-crosswords.
    1. Thanks for mentioning the grid George – I had it in my notes and then forgot to include it – it did have an odd feel to it

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