Solving time: Probably about 3 hours all told, but I wasn’t really concentrating a lot of the time.
I found this one quite hard going, and I didn’t really get on the setter’s wavelength throughout. There were some good clues amongst this lot. I particularly like the anagrams at 18a and 3d, but my COD goes to 43a.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
1 | DORIC – initials of D |
4 | CARIB + OU |
8 | OVERSLEEP = (RESOLVE)* + PE rev |
13 | MERRIMENT = MIME about ERR + N |
14 | ADVENTURESOME = ADVENT + SOME about URE |
15 | GENETIC = GEN + CITE rev |
16 | OBSERVE = (VERBOSE)* |
17 | TRAPEZE = “EASE” after TRAP (gin) |
18 | EDWARD THE CONFESSOR = (SECOND-RATE SERF WHO’D)* |
21 | FAST – becomes FAT without the S |
23 | IRON + HORSE |
25 | NEED |
26 | REVER |
28 | ELGIN MARBLES = (LEG)* + IN + RAMBLES with the RAM rev |
30 | MALE VOLE + N |
33 | HETERODOXY = HE |
34 | BANTAMWEIGHT = (A + N + TAM + WE) all in BIGHT |
37 | NAIADS = NAI |
39 | CORYZA – rev hidden |
40 | SUNDOWNER = R after (S + UNDO + W |
42 | IONA – hidden |
43 | HANDLE + BARM + OUST + ACHE |
46 | A PRIORI = (OR + I) all after APR I |
47 | P + ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) + S + SO |
48 | EXORDIA = EX + (RADIO)* |
50 | PEOPLE (inhabit) + CARRIER (Barrow, perhaps) |
51 | INTELLECT = IN + TELL + T about EC (City) |
52 | DATEPALMS = DATE + (ALMS after P) |
53 | THIAMIN = I in HAM in TIN |
54 | DEMUR = RUM + ED all rev – although I don’t know what the ‘prefer to “in backing”’ is doing there. |
Down | |
---|---|
1 | DEMAGNETISE = (DISAG |
2 | R(ER)UN |
3 | CHILTERN HUNDREDS = (SEND HURT CHILDREN)* |
4 | CREW CUT = CUT after CREW |
5 | RETROCEDE = O + “SEED” after RETR |
6 | BRAS + S + FOUNDER |
7 | UNVERIFIED = VER |
8 |
|
9 | ERUPTION = PURE rev + (ON IT)* |
10 | SEES + A + W |
11 | EXONERATE = ER + ATE after EXON (yeoman officer) |
12 | PRE-SENT |
19 | W + R + OUGHT |
20 | STE(WAR)T |
22 | REMOTE + CON + TROLLED |
24 | R, W AND A – what’s left after three letters are removed from NORWAY |
27 | V + ERMIN |
29 | BOX + WOOD |
31 | EU + GEN + I + C |
32 | CARAVANSERAI = (ARISE)* after CARAVAN |
33 | H AND I + CAPPED |
35 | THREE-MASTER = HR in TEE + MASTER |
36 | TYPESCRIPT – ‘printed copy’ would be the definition, but I don’t get how the wordplay works. |
38 | INNERMOST = INN + MOST all about |
40 | SYMPOSIUM = MU + I + SOP + MY + |
41 | MANIACAL = MAN + AI (cracking) rev + CAL |
44 | UNEATEN = UNBEATEN with the |
45 | ROLL-UP – dd |
47 | PARIS = PARTS with the top stroke of the T removed to make I |
49 | D(RE)AM |
C.ONG’ARA,
NAIROBI.