Need just one answer? Jump directly to today's Reveal-An-Answer
Jump directly to today’s Crosaire solution.
Jump directly to the explanations of today’s clues
Print last this week's WEB Crossword
Greetings, all! I wasn't quite as zippy going through today's puzzle, but I did emerge victorious, so that always puts me in a good mood (I am so easily pleased!). Had to think long and hard until MOTHERLY came to me, and then I put in a hesitant POLICE to stop the clock at 20m 27s. And now I am at a very scary r5ow.
Today's Crosaire Aria
17A: OYSTER
Somehow the seventies rock band Blue Oyster Cult got right by me when I was a young lad. I only discovered their big 1976 hit (Don't Fear) The Reaper on the soundtrack of a video game would you believe, about 10 years ago? I love the minimalist feel of the song with the recurring guitar riff, and the driving tempo is almost hypnotic. You know, their sound reminds me somewhat of Horslips. Anyway, I found an Aria that plays off OYSTER ... quite an achievement I'd say! This is another clip that needs the speakers turned right up. It should get the kids out of bed of a morning.
The Clue of the Day
4A: The only small number I had in current use (8)
M. Crosaire provides us today with a nice and precise "physi-clue", the trademarks of puzzles by our own physics Teacher, Tommy, and our own physics student, Mark (who has been in hiding of late, working towards his finals). The only (SOLE) small number (NO) I had (I'D) = SOLENOID: in current use.
The Lookup of the Day10A: AFFLATUS
AFFLATUS is a Latin term that we have lifted directly from the writings of Cicero, the Roman philosopher and statesman. Just as "inspiration" comes from the word "inspire", to draw in the breath, AFFLATUS comes from afflare, "to blow upon". So inspiration comes to us, we breathe it in, whereas with AFFLATUS the idea is blown at us, by a divine wind. AFFLATUS is more than the gathering of an idea that can inspire, it is more mystical and overwhelming. Interesting ...
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
1: SAMPAN
4: SOLE-NO-I'D
The only (SOLE) small number (NO) I had (I'D) = SOLENOID: in current use.
Nice one, and a physi-clue for Tommy ...
9: ANTICS
10: A-F-FLAT-US
Such a loud (A F) apartment (FLAT) with us (US) = AFFLATUS: what a divine inspiration to have.
AFFLATUS is divine communication of knowledge, it says here ...
12: LIEGE ... anagram of "glee I".
A LIEGE is a feudal lord, and a city in Belgium ...
13: GYRATIONS ... anagram of "stingy" and "oar".
15: NUN
No could be better than she (NONE) by the sound of it = NUN: sister.
16: RELIT ... anagram of "litre".
17: OYST(E)R
In a story (OYST-R) is 'e ('E) = OYSTER: "shelley" perhaps.
22: LYCEUM ... anagram of "my clue".
A LYCEUM is just that, a hall for public performances of various ilks ...
24: TREAT
27: MAR
A sheep (RAM) by turning it on its back = MAR: spoil.
Nice one ...
28: A-FORE-TIME
When there's a warning, of (golf) course (A FORE TIME) = AFORETIME: previously.
31: ABE-LE
Little Abraham (ABE) with the French (LE) but also = ABELE = POP-u-LAR without little you = poplar.
ABELE is the Old English name for the white poplar, as we saw in a Lookup of the Day back in August of last year ...
32: PR(IN-C)ESS
In the press (PR-ESS) in a hundred (IN C) = PRINCESS: for the palace.
33: STRAND
A string (STAND) along the shore (STRAND) for a banana (STRAND).
Banana is associated with the STRAND in London, from the lyrics “Let’s all go down the Strand (‘ave a banana) …”, as we've seen before ...
34: THE PLATE
A plate can be awarded as a prize, and it's flat.
35: ED-I-TED
Between Edward 1 (ED-I) and Edward 11, a second Edward (TED) = EDITED: got it for a change.
I think that's it. Anyone see anything different?
UPDATE: Mike saw something different, and so did everyone else, I am sure. Kicking myself over this one. Between Edward 1 and Edward 11 (ED-ED) got it (IT) = EDITED: for a change.
Down
1: SMALL FRY
2: M(OTHER-L)Y
My (M-Y) that's about the different half-century (OTHER L) = MOTHERLY: that's parental.
3: AN(CIENTL)Y
In any circumstances (AN-Y) the client (CIENTL) for = ANCIENTLY: as of old.
5: OFF-'ER
One is no longer keen on (OFF) her ('ER) = OFFER: tender.
6: E(C)LAT
In a "late" way (E-LAT) see (C) = ECLAT: what a fuss there is.
An ECLAT is demonstration of admiration, applause ...
7: OPTION ... anagram of "potion".
8: DE(SIS)T
Ted getting up (DE-T) about his little sister (SIS) = DESIST: stop.
11: IGNORE
"Not 2, no" ... sounds like (NOT TO KNOW) = IGNORE.
14: ART
"Are" you are they used to put it = ART (thou).
18: SUMMER
A totter is one who sums up things (SUMMER) and SUMMER comes before the season of fall/autumn.
19: EXTRACTED
I think this was meant to be an anagram of "tax" and "creed", but it isn't. Anyone?
20: RE(LEVA)NT
In the rent (RE-NT) the vale (LEVA) = RELEVANT: that applies.
21: A-TT-ENDED
A teetotaller (A TT) was no longer there (ENDED) = ATTENDED: all there.
23: CAT
The "line" of the "fee" (FEE LINE) sounds like (FELINE) = CAT: gets the nine of the livings (has nine lives).
25: TAP-PET
Little knock (TAP) for CAT (PET) = TAPPET: in the engine.
The TAPPETS are the levers that open and close the valves, I think!
26: PO-LICE
The lousy (-LICE) is the "last" part of the answer = POLICE: have they re-gard (guard), or are they watching, perhaps? Anyone?
29: EXCEL
To go one better (EXCEL) before Lent (LENT) = EXCELLENT: would be all for the best.
30: INS('E)T
During this month (INS-T) 'E ('E) = INSET: is included.
Reveal-An-Answer
Need just one answer to get things moving? Here is my solution to today's puzzle, in a hidden format. To reveal any particular answer, highlight the whole line containing the relevant clue number.
Across
1: SAMPAN
4: SOLE-NO-I'D
9: ANTICS
10: A-F-FLAT-US
12: LIEGE
13: GYRATIONS
15: NUN
16: RELIT
17: OYST(E)R
22: LYCEUM
24: TREAT
27: MAR
28: A-FORE-TIME
31: ABE-LE
32: PR(IN-C)ESS
33: STRAND
34: THE PLATE
35: ED-I-TED
Down
1: SMALL FRY
2: M(OTHER-L)Y
3: AN(CIENTL)Y
5: OFF-'ER
6: E(C)LAT
7: OPTION
8: DE(SIS)T
11: IGNORE
14: ART
18: SUMMER
19: EXTRACTED
20: RE(LEVA)NT
21: A-TT-ENDED
23: CAT
25: TAP-PET
26: PO-LICE
29: EXCEL
30: INS('E)T
11 comments:
Hi Bill,
Very well done on your five timer.
I almost gave up today as I had several blanks in the NE. Took a long while to see that GYRATIONS was an anagram. However once I got that the rest tumbled into place, IGNORE,ART, OYSTER and finally ECLAT.
Several new or half-remembered words today like the 'aforesaid' ECLAT & SAMPAN, LYCEUM, TAPPET & AFFLATUS.
Also the BANANA/STRAND link went over my head completely.
My take on EDITED was that IT came between the first ED and the second ED.
Feeling decidedly lucky to have made it to r2ow.
Good Luck tomorrow Bill.
Mike
Good morning, Mike.
You made it though unscathed in the end, and that's what matters. "Half-remembered" is just a great way to describe so many answers in a Crosaire crossword. There is hardly ever a puzzle where that doesn't apply for me!
The banana/strand link we've seen before, so that one I "fully" remembered, but that's the only reason why.
Thanks for sorting out the ED(IT)ED rationale for me. I should have spotted that. I always have problems when M. Crosaire uses the simple little words like "it, "the" and "and". I'll make a note in the commentary.
Good luck tomorrow to you too, Mike.
Hi Guys!
Long-drawn out effort from me today!
Finally got my tantara though, with 'solenoid' my last....'gyrations' also came slowly and 'police' tentatively....as I was away in Wales for a Celtic Festival at the weekend I had 5 Crosaires to catch up on yesterday!!!
Phew!
Cheers, Moley
Hi Moley,
It's good to see you back. Hope you had a good time across the water. It's tough enough doing crosswords, without having to do them in Welsh!
I agree about the "tentative" POLICE ... still not sure about that one.
Croeso gartref!
Hi Bill, Moley and Mike,
It took me a long time but I managed to get through it in the end.
Never heard of AFFLATUS but guessed it with the clue.
POLICE was my last.
Thanks again Bill.Your Blog helps me to understand how M.Crosaire thinks.
Roll on tomorrow!
Barbara
Hi All,
Well done again Barbara! My run continues (got throught yesyerday too, although chance to comment here) as I too finished with a tentative entry of POLICE. Would it really be stretching it to suggest it's re-guard re police? I'd failed to spot OYSTER in the Sunday Times Crossword at the weekend with the clue 'Funny story about european shellfish' - no excuse as it was all there really but at least it hopped out at me straight away today!SOLENOID and AFFLATUS were new to me as was the BANANA/STRAND connection, but luckily gettable.
Martina
Hi
Just re reading my last comment and there are more typos there than in all last weeks crosswords. Sorry! I wasn't attempting to write in Welsh. Honest!
Martina
Hi Bill and Gang
The NE was last to yield...but finished to bring me to the dizzy heights of r1ow...similarly iffy about POLICE...but just one of those partial clues I think.
I liked today's clue for ANTICS...Mr. C. often uses CAPERS/ANTICS...but the sauce today added a bit of spice! Also liked SUMMER and OFFER...silly ol' me!
Liz
Hi there, Barbara.
You're really knocking off these Crosaire puzzles now, on a regular basis. Well done you!
I doubt that many of heard of AFFLATUS before today (such a lovely sounding word, and a subtle meaning too). Words like that need a very precise clue, so that you have a chance of arriving at it some other way rather than justing knowing what it means. Fortunately, as you said, the clue walked us there today.
I'm not sure I understand how M. Crosaire thinks though ... he is always surprising us!
Good luck tomorrow, Barbara.
Hi Martina,
Congrats on racking up another victory.
RE REGARD
I was thinking the same thing, with -GARD somehow mapping into "guard", or even "garda". Couldn't really come up with anything definitive though.
I'm not sure that cars have SOLENOID anymore, now that things are so electronic. In my day, we were always monkeying with solenoid switches to start cars without the key ... hmm, that does make me sound somewhat criminal!
Hope your run of good fortune continues, Martina.
Hi Liz,
You've come away from the Dark Side and joined the winning team again!
I noted the CAPERS/ANTICS as well. But not too favorably. I can't stand the taste of capers ...
Good luck tomorrow, Liz. May the Force be with you ...
Post a Comment