It’s Enigmatist!
Looking through the archive, I find that it’s almost exactly a year since I blogged an Enigmatist puzzle. I have not attempted to solve one since then, having finally decided that they are, generally, beyond me. When I looked, shortly after midnight, to see what was in store for me, my immediate reaction was to call in sick but I decided to have a quick look before trying to get some sleep and somehow, I just seemed to keep going.
I found it a bit of a mixture. About a dozen of the clues were really straightforward but some others were completely unsolvable and, when revealed, remained a complete mystery; there are yet others where I can see tantalising bits of the parsing but just can’t piece them together. As last time, to save you searching through the blog I’ll list here the instances where I failed in solving and / or parsing: 11a, 15ac, 23ac, 7dn and 18dn. As always, my thanks in advance for the help, with my usual plea for avoidance of repetition (posting simply to agree with others – last time there were 150 comments!) – and apologies for my failings. I won’t list favourites, since I’m sure that some of the above would be included, if I’d managed to see them.
My thanks to Enigmatist – I did enjoy what I could do!
Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1 Accompanied by star, left behind with knowledge of Glasgow sports venue (10,4)
KENNINGTON OVAL
KENNING (Scottish for ‘knowing’, so ‘with knowledge of Glasgow’) + TO (?) + NOVA (star) + L )left)
Venue for Surrey County Cricket Club
8 Regretful of £1000 deposited after bankruptcy (5)
RUING
RUIN (bankruptcy) + G (£1000)
9 Discarded top class team (3-5)
SET-ASIDE
SET A (top class) + SIDE (team)
11 Solo turn by crossword guru touring centre of 1ac? (7)
CADENZA
I can see a reversal (turn) of AZED (crossword guru) in here but can’t see the rest
12 Maximum and minimum values taken out of context, remarkably (7)
EXTREMA
Hidden in contEXT REMArkably
13 Change location of union meeting in telephone call? (5)
ALTER
Sounds like (in telephone call) ‘altar’ (location of union meeting)
15 Under a great burden, Ms Viner perhaps, with work (9)
OPPRESSED
OP (work) + PRESSED ???
17 An essential for burner of midnight oil hit spot (9)
LAMPLIGHT
LAM (hit) + PLIGHT (spot)
20 Guiltless about Jack Sprat’s diet, it’s implied (5)
CLEAN
C (about) + LEAN (Jack Sprat’s implied diet – he ‘could eat no fat’)
21 Arctic resident worked in retirement with supercomputer (7)
NARWHAL
A reversal (in retirement) of RAN (worked) + W (with) + HAL (supercomputer)
23 Cheese production initially stops its run (7)
SAPSAGO
25 Dodge section that is recording (8)
SIDESTEP
S (section) + ID EST (that is) + EP (recording)
26 Forest dweller there – fearfully symmetrical, according to recital (5)
TAIGA
I learned this word long ago, from crosswords – sounds like (according to recital) ‘tiger / tyger’ – a clever reference to the ‘dweller there’ in Blake’s poem:
“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
27 Planet’s reporter takes chorus on leave, on the way to the Proms? (10,4)
KENSINGTON GORE
(Clark) KENT (Planet’s reporter) round SING (chorus) + GO (leave) + RE (on)
The site of the Royal Albert Hall, venue for the Proms
Down
1 Charles and his mum in dust-up about constant sleazy activity (4,8)
KERB CRAWLING
KING (Charles) with ER (his mum) in BRAWL (bust-up) round C (constant)
2 Water nymph transformed by Diana (5)
NAIAD
An anagram (transformed) of DIANA
3 Mostly where soldiers are trained to place their trust (2,7)
IN GENERAL
Cryptic definition
4 Harsh and unscrupulous activity, seizing racy tapes (7)
GESTAPO
GO (activity) round an anagram (racy) of TAPES – Chambers lists this as an adjective
5 Awfully sick after leaving new soup kitchen, getting better (2,3,2)
ON THE UP
An anagram (awfully) of SOUP KITCHEN minus ‘sick’
6 Start rolling the cameras here (5)
ONSET
ON SET – where the cameras roll
7 Notices surrounding hip-hop doctor’s name on envelope (9)
ADDRESSEE
ADS (notices) … DR (doctor) …
10 Sorcerer welcomes assistance getting diplomat initial crossing? (6,6)
MAIDEN VOYAGE
MAGE (sorcerer) round AID (assistance) + ENVOY (diplomat) – I liked this one
14 Actor suggesting a spot of 1dn? (3,6)
TOM CRUISE
Cryptic definition, tom being slang for prostitute
16 Sort of alpine act a daring climb? (2,7)
EL CAPITAN
An anagram (sort of) of ALPINE ACT
18 It’s a bit gluey getting up on a cycle (7)
GELATIN
19 Old drunkard beats wino up (7)
TOSSPOT
A reversal (up) of TOPS (beats) + SOT (wino) – this raised a smile
22 Spurs are improving, reportedly (still in need of work) (5)
HEELS
Sounds like (reportedly) ‘heal’ (are improving) + S[till] minus ’till’ (work – on the land) – I think
24 Friend is one shot (5)
AMIGO
AM I (is one) + GO (shot)
CADENZA
AZED (crossword guru)
Around
Centre of 1=centre of one=N
AZNED+AC (from the surface 1ac)
Turn the above
SAPSAGO
its=it+it=SASA
P in SASA
+GO (run)
ADDRESSEE
AD, SEE notces
DRES hip-hop doctor’s
GELATIN
ELATING (getting up) cycled
OPPRESSED
Struggling …
PRESS ED(itor)?
Viner is Chief Editor tho
Comment #2
Ms Viner is the Guardian editor, hence a PRESS-ED
7d is I think a reference to Dr Dre. So ‘doctor’s’ is DRES in AD plus SEE
17 a I had LAMP for ‘hits and (spot) LIGHT
ADDRESSEE
ads and see two types of notice around DRE as in Dr Dre a hiphop musical artist
KENNINGTON OVAL
accompanied by=TO
KERB CRAWLING
I had this…(not sure I am right)
Charles=K
his mum=ER
in dust-up=BRAWLING
about C
ON THE UP
There are two anagrinds
awfully for sick
and new for the longer fodder
Thanks Eileen.
When I saw the setter, I had the same reaction as Eileen and thought what’s the point, but I’m pleased to say that I managed to solve this before lights out, apart from having to reveal SAPSAGO. I liked the quasi-symmetry of KENNINGTON OVAL and KENSINGTON GORE plus KERB CRAWLING with TOM CRUISE and MAIDEN VOYAGE. I couldn’t parse CADENZA, ALTER or TAIGA.
I had ADDRESSEE as 2 x notices, ADS and SEE about Dr DRE, the hip hop artist, A tough challenge but not surprising.
Ta Enigmatist & Eileen.
Thought I was going to finish an Enigmatist – but no. NHO SAPSAGO and certainly couldn’t parse it. I suspect the bookenders at 1a and 27a might be challenging for some of our overseas solvers. TAIGA is fave today for the poetic reference.
Thanks both
PS. I have nothing against TOM CRUISE but I’m never going to be able to see his name again without thinking of kerb-crawling!
Many thanks for prompt responses.
Crispy @3 – of course: doh!
I meant to say that I wouldn’t attempt to record thanks for each piece of help as it arrived. Please take it as read, until a later summary (when I’ve had a chance to wake up. 😉 )
A mixed bad indeed. If you ignore that I had to reveal SAPSAGO and CADENZA pleased to get an Enigmatist solved in the time I put aside in the morning. I did not know or could parse afterwards either of those reveals so I was not going to get there in a million years.
Enjoyed the two Kensington related clues, KERB CRAWLING and TOM CRUISE
Thanks Eileen and Enigmatist.
Comment #12
Like Eileen I’m fearful when I see the name Enig, but this one was ok. I even parsed 4 out of the 5 Eileen left. Thanks both
@1 it = SA ?
Don’t get it
Can you help please
CRUISE is another word for KERB CRAWL. I parsed LAMPLIGHT as Mike @5.
Torture. Who’s heard of sapsago? And how is “harsh and unscrupulous” a definition for secret state police,?
I was somewhat fearful when I saw Enigmatist’s name as I’m closing in on a 100 day winning streak! I got there but not without a battle and the parsing was a slog. Neat play on kennington/kensington.
I agree about Dr Dre and Ms Viner being a PRESS ED.
I got as far as Eileen with CADENZA and bodged a desperate SAPS (ends, by taking its energy) + AGO (its [race is] run i.e. in the past).
I’d like to say I prefer KVa’s version, which is bound to be correct, but I don’t even understand that!
Can you elaborate KVa and are you ever a setter/blogger?
I was pleased to fill the grid and liked some of the clues but these tend to feel a step too far.
I will continue to engage though.
Lizzie @16 I had the same question, GESTAPO can be an adjective too.
(13 comments while I was writing mine. I look behind the times)
Thanks Enigmatist and Eileen.
TOM CRUISE
Is it a soundalike of (suggesting) “Tom crews”
Spot of (someone) Kerb Crawling?
Sorry for multiple posts.
PB@14
IT means sex/sexual relationship.
SA is sex appeal. In Crosswordostan IT=SA.
Martin@18
Thanks for the compliments.
No. I never tried setting or blogging.
Like Eileen, I nearly shelved this but I decided to have a go. The two KENs (1a & 27a) spurred me on. I eventually had to sleep and finished it shortly after waking up. I wonder if the neighbours might have me locked up as I run down the street shouting, “I finished an Enigmatist!”
PB @ #14
SA = sex appeal, or “it”
PB @14 SA=Sex Appeal = It, as in you either have it or don’t. I’ve never liked it much, but it’s common in crosswords.
I struggled with parsing in much the same places as Eileen. All seems fair with te explanations though.
KVa@7 I had KERB CRAWLING as you’ve parsed it, but I think Eileen is right. IMO Charles can only = K if you go via chess, which seems too much of a stretch I think?
I just think so much of this cluing seems as if it was rushed – lazy rather than clever.
Wow. First time this has happened but I lost the will to continue with just over half done as I was discouraged by my inability to parse a number of obviously correct solutions. I just felt ‘What’s the point?’ Relieved to see that I’m in quite decent company. First time I’d come across this setter. Will probably give it a miss next time.
Yes, MeToo, shrinking back whenever I see this setter’s name appearing. But maybe because I didn’t have a peek just past midnight this time but came to it not that long ago. Or maybe because I thought KENSINGTON GORE(which I know from my days in South Ken) straight away from the Prom reference, when I read 27ac, then wondered if 1ac could – possibly – be the almost similar KENNINGTON OVAL (where I’ve watched the cricket many a time). Anyway, both got written in, parsing sort of checked, and I was away. Last one in (had to Google that one) was SAPSAGO. Never completed an ENIGMATIST before, but somehow managed this one on a wing and a prayer
I got it all! Except that I put in SOPRANO instead of the sixth most well known type of cheese in Switzerland – which you could only solve if you are from the 1940s and still think that “it” means SA. Soprano is a brand of cheese though.
Honestly, Enigmatist is obviously very clever and talented – one of the best – so why does he need to resort to crosswordese junk like that?
Thanks Enigmatist and Eileen
I didn’t enjoy this at all. Some of the clues seemed to be allusions to the answers rather than actual clues (GESTAPO and IN GENERAL for instance).
I got SAPSAGO from a wordfinder. Has anyone heard of it?
KENSINGTON GORE is very UK specific GK.
To add to the confusion, in Barbados there is a KENSINGTON OVAL!
SAPSAGO
Martin@18
Did you want an elaborate parsing?
I didn’t get it in the first reading. Sorry.
production initially=P
its=IT+IT=SASA
run=GO
P stops (goes into) SASAGO.
(Or P stops SASA)+GO
In CADENZA
1ac in the clue expands to ONE AC
N from ONE (the central letter) and AC are used in the WP.
‘Turn by’ in the clue is the reversal indicator.
As per Postmark @9 for me. Miraculously, the solutions rolled out – don’t quite know why.
As Eileen has said, some clues were straightforward, but the planets must be aligned too, because somehow I could intuit many other answers without hacking through the parsing undergrowth.
Thanks to Enigmatist and Eileen
D’Oh! Yes, sex appeal and it. Thank you KVa and Lizzie.