Comments on: Financial Times 12,917 by Cinephile

By: John in USA

John in USA — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:04:29 +0000

In 8D, the I comes from the abbreviation for a top chess player, IGM = International Grandmaster. Thanks, guys, for seeing the 17D wordplay Art instructor = Teachest, which I’d missed. Good one.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:11:35 +0000

If the clue were a double definition – and it isn’t, as the word count makes clear – then I’d agree both would need to be in. (Curiously TEA CHEST isn’t in Collins under either ‘tea’ or ‘chest’ (bold lc), but IS used as an example (light grey lc) for the usage of the relevant meaning in the entry for CHEST.)

That the archaic SI leads to an archaic word is enough for me – I don’t see a need for another indicator (nor does anyone else above, but I thought I’d say it anyway).

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:51:09 +0000

Andrew
Thanks for the link. If Azed thinks it is a valid clue then who am I to argue! I don’t object to using ‘art’ in the archaic sense (I think you are right and it was used this way in a clue about six months ago but in a different context) but to be fair to solvers I do believe that both ‘tea chest’ and ‘teachest’ should be in at least one of the standard references that I listed above.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:29:20 +0000

I was sure I’d seen the “art instructor”->”teachest” device fairly recently, but googling only found a (complimentary) reference to the “art master” version of it in the Slip for Azed 714 (Jan 1986!).

http://www.andlit.org.uk/azed/buildslip_param.php?comp_no=714

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:21:30 +0000

(Thou) art right, Gaufrid. Thank you for that.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:46:53 +0000

Mornin’ Smiffy

“12A: Isn’t “Lover” a extra/bonus definition too?”

I parsed this as: definition ‘lover’, wordplay ’second on wagon’ with ‘authority on boat’ as an additional cryptic indicator.

19d Perhaps I was in a good mood! I might have quibbled about the indirect anagram fodder had the fairy king in question not been clear from the theme and 25a.

By: C G Rishikesh

C G Rishikesh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:20:32 +0000

Thank you, Geoff!

By: smiffy

smiffy — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:19:42 +0000

12A: Isn’t “Lover” a extra/bonus definition too?

Am not the happiest of bunnies about the indirectness at 19D. Surprised that one didn’t trigger your normally well-tuned quibble-o-meter, Gaufrid.

Finally, (TE) Lawrence references on consecutive days must be something of a record.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:18:26 +0000

Hi Rishi

‘(you) are (an) instructor’ = ‘(you) teach’
‘(thou) art (an) instructor’ = ‘(thou) teachest’

By: C G Rishikesh

C G Rishikesh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:15:17 +0000

I meant to say “instructs or gives instruction” might give ‘teachest’.