A collection of flowers, three of each kind. Fairly easy, as is normal for a Tuesday FT. I had one question (the definition of CRYOSTAT) and one minor complaint (repeating the use of LORE).
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | CLOVER C (caught) LOVER (mistress) |
| 5 | REPUBLIC R (start to “reveal”) + *(BLUE PIC) |
| 9 | EPONYMIC *(I COPY MEN) |
| 10 | PARODY PAR (play as expected) (b)ODY (group lacking a leader) |
| 11 | AMAZON dd |
| 12 | CRYOSTAT CRY (scream) + STAT (immediately) after O (duck). Chambers indicates that a cryostat is an “apparatus” for achieving a low temperature. Not sure how one gets a “chamber” from that |
| 14 | EXACERBATING EX (direct from) ACER (maple) BATING (hawk’s beating of wings). This last part was a new word for me |
| 18 | NON-ABSTAINER d&cd This must be one who refrains from staining [the reputation of] an AB |
| 22 | BRACELET B (secondary) RACE (career) followed by LET (allowed) |
| 25 | DANUBE N in DAUBE (a meat stew). |
| 26 | LITCHI LIT (discovered) CHI (Greek character) |
| 27 | SPATULAS *(SALSA PUT) |
| 28 | PEKINESE PE (exercise) KIN (family) + leads of Every Schoolkid Enjoying |
| 29 | TEASEL T (beginning to topple) EASEL (artist’s stand) |
| Down | |
| 2 | LIPOMA O (old) MA (mother) below LIP (cheek) |
| 3 | VENEZUELA EZ (easy, as heard) in VENUE (arena) + LA (the French). Not sure what role Sam plays here |
| 4 | RUMANIANS *(RUN A MAIN) + S (top of Sardinia) |
| 5 | RECYCLE RE (on the matter of) CYCLE (rota) |
| 6 | POPPY dd |
| 7 | BIRDS R in BIDS (what is offered). The classic from Aristophanes |
| 8 | INDIA INK cd (referring to fountain pens) |
| 13 | OVA O (Ohio) + VA (Victoria & Albert Museum). |
| 15 | BANK DRAFT BANK (save) D (500) RAFT (a very large amount) |
| 16 | TARANTULA *(NATURAL T(error)) |
| 17 | LORRAINE RAIN (wet weather) in LORE (learning) |
| 19 | BEE “live in ecstasy” becomes E (ecstasy) in BE (live) |
| 20 | ARTISTE *(I START) + E(ntertainment); &lit |
| 21 | ABLAZE A B (black) LAZE (loaf) |
| 23 | CACTI C (coloured) ACT (something done) I (independence) |
| 24 | LOIRE I (one) in LORE (traditional learning). I would have preferred not to see the same fodder (LORE) used twice in the same puzzle. |
Hi Agentzero,
Wikipedia describes CRYOSTAT as a vessel similar to a vacuum flask, so I guess “chilly chamber” is an apt definition.
Agree with you about LORE.
3D: “Sam’s easy” is perhaps indicating the American way of pronouncing “Z” in EZ.
My dictionary says cryostat is the device which controls the temperature, like thermostat.
Also, 14a: exacerbating surely means _making_ worse, not _getting_ worse.
Shuchi, I think you must be right about 3d, thanks. Although I have never seen it used in that sense without the “Uncle.”
Tony, I think your point is well taken on 14a. “Exacerbating” is a transitive verb.
So, you can be quite exacting when it suits!