Jump directly to today’s Crosaire solution.
Jump directly to the explanations of today’s clues.
Yowza! I found today’s puzzle to be very, very difficult. After way too long at it, I gave up missing two answers: 19D: UNAMUSED (a great clue) and 18A: OPULENT. I raced through half of the puzzle feeling very cocky, but then had to fight with every remaining clue to get down to just two answers missing. Great stuff, M. Crosaire!
Today’s Crosaire Aria
22D: ARIA
As I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of grand opera. However, there are a few arias that are just exquisite and provide a welcome interlude. Puccini’s Madama Butterfly yields Un bel di .. (One fine day …), a piece that just tears at your heartstrings. I think it is fair to say, that the aria itself is even more popular than the opera. That said, Madama Butterfly is the most performed opera, in the United States anyway. Singing in this clip is Ying Huang, a soprano from China.
The Clue of the Day
CONSONANT, VOWEL, ALPHABET
There a number of good clues today, I thought, but I most admired the grouping of three clues relating to the alphabet and its letters. Good stuff!
The Lookup of the Day33A: A-PERI-TIF
There was a lot for me to lookup today, quite frankly, but the most obscure was PERI. In Persian mythology, PERIS are fairy-like creatures, who descended from fallen angels, and who must do penance before entering paradise. Over time, PERIS came from being regarded as evil beings, to be welcomed as benevolent spirits. Thomas Moore wrote a poem Paradise and the PERI, and coincidentally, Robert Schumann set the poem to music in a CANTATA of the same name …
Here are my answers. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or send me an email, especially if you notice something wrong with my reasoning.
Across
1: C(ONSO-N)ANT
Can’t get around (C-AN’T) soon (ONSO) the North (N) = CONSONANT: this sort of a letter.
9: SEAN-CE
In Ireland, John (SEAN-) is the “start” of the answer, SÉANCE: so spirited.
10: ALPHABET
That’s all CONSONANTS and VOWELS … what a great threesome of clues!
11: VOCALS
All so in-voiced = VOCALS: like a CANTATA.
A CANTATA is a piece of music that is sung, as opposed to a sonata, a piece of music played with no voice, usually on a piano.
12: BARREL
Have a shot with a double BARREL-ed shotgun, perhaps. And a BARREL is a container.
14: I-RON
I and Ronald, Ron (I RON) = IRON: use this in the fairway of a golf course.
15: AL-L IN
Nothing, nil, back (LIN) is the last part of answer, ALL IN: worn out.
16: W(EAP)ON
Now about (W-ON) the ape (EAP) = WEAPON: to fight with.
18: OPULENT
To be “well” “off”.
21: GLAD EYE
Happy (GLAD) to see (EYE) = GLAD EYE: to stare seductively at someone, I just found out …
24: PS-ALMS
As an afterthought (PS) charity (ALMS) = PSALMS: how David produced.
26: AWAIT
What is heavy, a weight, sounds like AWAIT: hang around.
30: AE-ON
Is Russell (AE) on (ON) = AEON: time.
George Russell wrote under the pseudonym “AE”.
31: SARONG
What one wears round about oneself in the East.
32: ROUNDS
33: A-PERI-TIF
A fairy (A PERI) might fit up (TIF) = APERITIF: a drink before we eat.
A PERI is a fairy in Persian mythology. We all knew that, right?
34: THEMES … anagram of “he’s met”.
35: BANDAGING
Down
2: OIL-CAN
What the lubricant in it (OIL) is able to do (CAN) = OILCAN. Nice!
3: SAH-A-RA
Has up (SAH) one prominent painter (A RA) = SAHARA: desert one.
4: NO BALL
We went through this before in some detail. A NO BALL is a penalty against the fielding team, usually because of a bowling error.
5: NO-THING
No object (NO THING) = NOTHING: O.
6: BEGONE
Get away!
7: ENSAMPLE
Be TRYING.
New to me, but I live a good life so some of my guesses work out …
8: LESSON TEN
It takes under X, less than ten, sounds like LESSON TEN: in which one would get taught (sounds like “taut”).
11: VO(W)EL
In love (VO-EL) double you (W) = VOWEL: that letter.
13: ELSE
It’s not all there, so where-ELSE is it? This leads us to ELSE.
UPDATE: PORO/Peter has pointed out that I didn't quite do justice to the clue here. Not all there? No, some are ELSE-WHERE (where after ELSE). Thank you, Peter!
17: CO-OPER-ATE
The one that a BARREL (COOPER) was fed (ATE) = CO-OPERATE: just to be helpful. Nice one.
19: UNA-MUSED
The girl (UNA) thought (MUSED) = UNAMUSED: as Queen Victoria was.
It’s apparently not certain that Queen Vic ever actually said “We are not amused!”
20: NOSES
NOSES pick up scent (sounds like “sent”).
22: ARIA
In the l-ARIA-t = ARIA: a song.
An unusual clue for M. Crosaire, I thought.
23: CAN-TATA
Able to (CAN) say farewell (TATA) = CANTATA: a piece of music featuring ‘VOCALS”.
25: M-ADDER
The snake (ADDER) with his head back on = MADDER: more angry.
27: A-SC-END
The lawyer (A SC) with the last (END) = ASCEND: up.
28: TRYING
Hard to stand, and making an effort.
29: INDIAN
In the states, one might find a red (sounds like “read”) INDIAN.
22 comments:
Hi Bill,
Sorry you missed out today. I agree it was a tough one, but I've finally got it out with ENSAMPLE being my last answer - never heard of the word, but seemed more plausible than anything else I could come up with.
GLAD EYE was new to me too, and was very unsure of my guess not having ENSAMPLE for a long time.
I didn't get the double reference in BARREL, so thanks for that.
PERI has been used before but I'd forgotten, it was only after I tried to fit TIF, into the letters I had that it came to me.
Was also torn between LESSEN TEN and LESSON TEN. I went for LESSON in the end, but still think either could be correct. Any thoughts?
UNAMUSED was used a while back with the QV reverence, but I cound't remember it. Got the UNA bit, and then figured it out.
Anyway, has been a tough crosaire week - I think we've all struggled.
Good day to you all.
- barry
Hi All,
The darkened room seemed to work wonders. I spent the whole day working on Yesterday's and when I finished I felt like Eliot Ness in The Untouchables. I got Capone, it wasn't pretty and I made some mistakes along the way but I got him.
Following that, Today seemed to slot into place quite quickly. Got the synapses fizzing again and was actually looking forward to it this morning. YAY.
Non Crosaire fans would probably call us crazy but it's such a personal achievement to complete one of these and anybody that does so must be heartily congratulated.
We are probably a little off the wall too given that some of the clues are so left of field that when you try and explain them to a non believer the eyes glaze over and the muttering about needing to be somewhere else gets quite loud.
Thanks for explaining the Russell clue, had it in from the time clue as this word is also used frequently in the Simplex.
Sometimes its nice to whet the appetite with an Aperitif of Simplex before Trying to go All In and giving the Glad Eye to M. Croziers finest. (sorry)
Take care
Col
Afterthought :
Indian is also an answer to a clue in the Simplex Today.
Piano Afterthought :
Just though I would mention it but Wikipedia has a collection of common clues for those starting out on the path less trodden.
Hi Bill, Barry and everybody!
Great puzzle today....though it brought it's successes and failures! Didn't finish, leaving ENSAMPLE blank! From across clues filled, I saw the 'SAMPLE' bit, had never heard of 'ENSAMPLE' and just didn't 'get it' enough to put anything in.....having since looked it up I'm still not sure of the reasoning....the noun ENSAMPLE is given as 'archaic form of EXAMPLE/INSTANCE'...verb 'to VERIFY, SHOW BY EXAMPLE'....I know I'm being pedantic here but how is M. Crosaire using it...as a noun I don't see it working with the clue....as a verb should the correct form not be ENSAMPLING (reading the TRYING in 28d as a verb?)....I'm just plain confused so HELP....please explain it to me!
Ah but the success! 32a 'they get about and get fired'! In your WEB puzzle of 14 June Bill you used the clue 'a grand-grand round-round' (AMMO) which I missed because of the 'round' thing! Famed for my lack of military/munitions knowledge, that day I promised I'd never miss the 'round' connection again.....so today.....I POSITIVELY POUNCED on it!!
'Giving someone the glad eye' is an old expression, hadn't heard it in years....
Got waylaid...and when I came back...Colin, your comment had popped up....hi and EYE'M GLAD to see you're back on track...enjoyed your comment today....the 'non believer' bit particularly! So true.....
Loved the ALPHABET SOUP trio, BANDAGING, UNAMUSED, APERITIF and the ROUNDS/COOPER/BARREL linkage....excellent...
It's quite a while since Mr. Crozier has used the GEORGE RUSSELL/AE ref. - nice to see it again....
...and a peri nice day to you all
Liz
Hello everyone,
I am new here. Today's crossword was as diff as usual. I like to not finish and have a clue or two in my head all day. To finish is a very satisfying feeling but to finish too early leaves me at a loose end for the rest of the day. Maybe its only me.
I am still surprised by you Bill getting finished so quickly you being on the other side of the world and all that. And as for putting up the answers...
Didn't get 21a: 7d:
All the Best
Bustop
Hi All,
Definitely a good one today but it broke my run since the AUROCH incident earlier in the week.
I too was en-stumped by ENSAMPLE and by GLAD EYE. I had AD and guessed GLAD and I had --E but didn't think of EYE even though I have heard the expression. I've even received the occasional "glad eye" in my time !! Though I may have issued mroe than I received I fear.
Re. 13d Bill - your explanation doesn't seem to quite do the clue justice. "Where after this" points to "-?-where". If one is not there one is ELSEwhere. Same as somewhere else as you said but let's be fair to Derek - he was more specific than that ! The "all" was a red herring tempting us toward absentees and lunatics.
Enjoyed your musings on the loneliness of the Croasire fan Colin. Very true - it's why Bill's blog is so popular with us - it's like an interactive Crosaire-ites Anonymous. All we need is 12 steps !
- P.
Hi Bill,
and welcome to Eleanor and Bustop.
I had a tomtara! yesterday only to fail by one letter today had ALL ON and did not notice it, but hell, thats the fun of this David's dastardly daily duel of us mental delinquents.
I think he put in the trio of armaments clues for Liz, BARREL(double), ROUNDS and WEAPON.
ENSAMPLE was a guess, as was OPULENT, but this was greatly helped when I figured out UNAMUSED.
Bill, I think the ARIA structue within LARIAT is described as a container clue.
I particularly liked the PSALMS clue
Hi Bill and all
Forgive all the ráméis about ENSAMPLE in my earlier comment....have just taken another look at your very succinct explanation Bill 'be trying'....doh Liz!....to be trying/to ensample.....oops....must have been the APERITIF!
Liz
Hi Everybody,
Not much left for me to say except had the same experience as Barry on this one..'ensample' was my last! I went shopping in the middle of it with about four left and when I came back tada!..I saw the light! I know what Bustop means about 'savouring' Crosaire for a while rather than going at it hell for leather like Bill :0). If I finish too quickly I feel a bit cheated...it all started when I was about six......definitely a basket case..I think we should try the 12 steps..maybe we could all contribute one each...Like; first make a cup of tea..or don't buy the Times till after lunch..imagine the withdrawal!! Anyhoo got me my 'tantara' today so that's my fix sorted!
Welcome Bustop!
Cheers Moley
Hi again
Forgot to say welcome Bustop....so you got tired of waiting there and hopped on the bus.....and arrived.... at Bill's Blog....what a trip!
So as Bill would say (but I got there first Bill!) welcome on BOARD!
...and PORO....good comment re 13d....but funny, I didn't identify with the 'not all there' ref at all!
Cheers
Liz
Hi Barry,
Good for you, geting through ok today, when I struggled so!
Re LESSON TEN
Now that you mention it, LESSEN TEN would work as the answer, I think. The clue doesn't specifically point to one or the other as being the answer. The problem is that neither is really an idiom or phrase that it commonly used, which would be the decider under normal circumstances. I'm not too fond of answers like this one.
TGIF, Barry.
Colin,
I'm not sure what you're doing in a darkened room, but whatever works for you! Maybe you're our token Goth Crosairer? :o)
I wrote a few paragraphs for Crosaire newbies and in there I've posted the link to the Crosaire Wikipedia article.
Also, our newcomer, Bustop, is somewhat of a Crosaire aficianado. He has shared with me an excellent one-page primer on Crosaire that the wrote himself. It's a .pdf file (which I can't post ... Blogger issues). Is there anyone here who could host that .pdf file, so that I could link to it? As I said, it's just one page!
Anyway, it looks like you're getting a little winning streak going, Colin. We have to get you up on our Honour Roll ...
Liz,
Hard luck. Missing one answer is a bummer.
Re ENSAMPLE
I agree with you on the definition issue here. Even though it was a new word to me, I assumed it a variant of SAMPLE, which would work with the clue. However, with the definition that you point out, of "example" or "show by example", the clue seems to be off a little. Ommmm ....
Re ROUNDS
Delighted you've pointed out one of the benefits of doing the Sunday WEB crossword, Liz. Great marketing as always. You're in line for another bonus!
Hi Bustop!
You're very welcome here, and I'm very appreciative of you stopping by to comment as someone new to the blog. Others tend to be more reticent :o)
I take your point about taking your time with the puzzle. As others know here, my guilty pleasure is indulged when back home in Ireland on holiday, and sitting with Irish Times and the Crosaire over a pint bottle of Guinness at lunchtime, 6-days a week. And if it takes two bottles to finish, so be it! I've had to make a bit of a speed challenge for myself since starting the blog, but that's a small price to pay for the enjoyment I get out of blogging here.
Anyway, you are most welcome here. I'll get your one-page Crosaire cheat sheet up here somehow over the next few days. It'll be a great addition to the blog.
Hi PORO Pete,
Re GLAD EYE
You've received a few GLAD EYES in your time, eh? I'm sure the ladies would love to see a picture of your lovely mug on here then! :o)
Re ELSE
You're quite right, I should have mentioned ELSE-where in the clue commentary. I'll go update it now. Thank you!
Hi Tommy,
Congrats on yesterday's tomtara, even if today tripped you up.
Re ARIA
Indeed, l-ARIA-t is a container clue. I've throw a few containers into the Sunday WEB puzzles, but this is the first one I've seen used by M. Crosaire since I started the blog. I rarely do the Simplex crossword, but as I recall, container clues are common there, and in some of the UK cryptics. It was a pleasant surprise for me to see it yesterday!
Liz,
Re ENSAMPLE
I wasn't clear, I think. I agree with you! I think the clue works if the definition of ENSAMPLE is similar to "SAMPLE". But as you correctly point out, ENSAMPLE means something quite different, an example, or to lead by example. In fact, if I had taken the time to check the definition as you did, I would definitely have picked this as Lookup of the Day!
Now, Moley, don't you be teasing me. If I had the luxury to slow down, you know I would! :o)
Congrats on navigating yesterday's puzzle successfully (and getting the shopping done at the same time!).
Thx for bringing up the cuppa ... time for my first cup of the day!
Hi Bill, everyone,
Welcome Bustop!
I had a slow start today, but eventually managed all but one. Like Liz, I had ENSAMPLE from TRYING, but when I looked it up, I felt the meaning didn't fit, so I left it blank.
I liked UNAMUSED GLAD EYE and the ALPHABET clues.
Also the Russell clue
Eleanor
Hi Bill
We'll draw a line under ENSAMPLE!
Something I forgot to mention in my earlier comment....29d 'Take that as read....' I felt a bit guilty when I got the 'read' ref and solution...and it occurred to me that this clue might not get printed in US papers?....though I'm presuming that this came from Mr. C's archive, rather than it being a recently written clue....times change.....
Manana!
Liz
Hi Eleanor,
All but one, nothing to be sneezed at, but frustrating.
And I am glad to see we haven't scared you away, Eleanor :o)
Liz,
Indeed, the Native American/Indian controversy will rage on, I am sure. I suppose if anyone deserves some leeway when it comes to contemporary political correctness, it would have to be our beloved M. Crosaire :o)
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