Incidentally while we're waiting for confirmation I have 2 more questions as I try to learn about cryptic clues... as I expanded into crosswords
1) I noticed (at least a lot on this site) aren't as dense as traditional crosswords - is that by design so less words get auto-filled or a coincidence?
2) I noticed that I see in various crosswords very similar/nearly identical wordplay for certain short words where there is an obvious wordplay. e.g 'insane roman' for Nero, 'glimpse castle from behind' for keep, various combos on RATS/STAR/ARTS/TARS etc. I am wondering if this is a) inevitable that obvious wordplay gets reused by coincidence or b) intentional, the idea being that as you do more crosswords you recognize certain clues giving you an 'in' to the puzzle
@Amoz it's by design, but not necessarily for "auto-fill" - instead, it gives the constructor more freedom for interestingly clue-able words. traditional cryptic grids typically start with a "lattice" of black cells, and then add a few more to block off long entries
(there's also barred grids, which don't have a starting pattern like that, but do still have the rules: - use 180° symmetry - every word must have at least half of its letters checked (sometimes half-minus-one for long entries) - no two unchecked cells in a row they're typically used for "variety" cryptics, puzzles with extra gimmicks beyond the usual cryptic clues.)
and sometimes, there's one very clear "nice" way to clue a word and not many other options! it's fairly inevitable that for some entries, setters will converge on a single type of wordplay independently. (especially if it has the potential for an &lit!)
but sometimes for particularly tricky puzzles, i'll use "boring" wordplay for the words i don't expect people to know - intentional 'gimme' clues that help give the solver a foothold on the weird gimmicks i've thrown in
okay I am still confused by half the rules so I'll start with a hopefully simpler and valid one which means it may have been done before (I don't know)
This was inspired by the word OLYMPIA (which is not the answer) :
CCCC: Word hated by many (extremely), including me (5)
yes, extremely=most. Wasn't sure if I had to double it so I did to be safe. Working on getting this Ximenes book to see if it explains all this but it seems to be $100. Unless anyone has other suggestions. Otherwise just reading a lot online.
i started by reading the cryptic clue guide on PSE, it's good
haven't read the ximenes book but i'm sure it's pretty authoritative, his name pops up all the time in discussions about cryptic clue rules even though he lived half a century ago
@Amoz Hm, I'm not sure that I really get the def. It's the mositure that is hated by many, not the word, no? Or am I missing something?
I'm also not so sure that reading Ximenes's book is a good way to learn how to set cryptic clues. I think itt is more important to get a feeling for cryptics and for what works and what doesn't.
Another guide I found useful for learning (how to solve, not set) cryptic rosswords is this short tutorial.
Hmm. does anybody remember a puzzle where codons were used to clue letters (by virtue of the one-letter abbreviation representing the amino acid representing the codon)? I do not remember the puzzle at all, but I think there might have been an instance where that type of encryption was used...
Any ideas? I think it has something to do with the moon illusion where the moon appears larger closer to the horizon. So a waxing wanin new and full moon and different times. One is my guess
Hm. I remember a crossword puzzle where the hidden theme was "least sexy-sounding words in English". The full list doesn't seem to have "moist", but it has "ointment". So it seems the oi sounds are off-putting.
i was mentally splitting both pronunciations up with "n" as the end of a syllable. but there are multiple different analyses! you can put the n at the end of syllable 1, or the start of syllable 2, and it's pronounced the same
it sounds like the only distinction between the two pronunciations is the vowel, and the rest is you splitting up the syllables differently
Part of the reason it was distracting was they always lingered over the "pee" for a bit before pronouncing "null" as a distinct entity, that's why I split the syllables as such
@bobble rhyme is like average in that it has a general meaning but also a specific one. Rhyme can mean half rhyme, assonance etc... But also just straight up end-of-word sounds alike
I was just frustrated that i seemed unable to explain what I was trying to communicate, since every time I tried to explain the difference I saw I got a response which seemed to say there wasn't a difference.
Task
Solve the sub-puzzles to enable you to solve the meta-puzzle at the end.
Partial answers contributing to the overall solve are welcome (but, of course, do try to answer as much as you can!).
Sub-puzzles
13. Who's been erased from history?
Text representation (for copy-paste purposes, if p...
@JeremyDover ^ Just to say, sub-puzzle 9 within this metapuzzle is a tribute to your Cryptic Family Reunion series - if you wanted to have a go at one you haven't set yourself! :)
CCCC: Sordid expression of pain embraced by the French (6)
At your bathhouse job, you encounter a pair of rainbow serpents, hiding behind a wide pillar. Only their heads are visible. You know that for each rainbow serpent, of the two heads, one will tell the truth and the other will lie. You also know that they are rather ill-tempered, and they'll only a...
I'm very glad :) I've wanted to make one for a long while - this presented the perfect opportunity...
@bobble To me, a Brit, 'college' is what you do from ages 16-18 - I always have to think twice about how old someone actually is when it crops up in US TV dramas!
CCCC: Herd surrounds last member of band seen with Yoko's mouth organ (6)
Thanks :) I've come to realise I really like using phrases that seem like they belong together but should actually be split between the wordplay and definition parts...
Any ideas? I think it has something to do with the moon illusion where the moon appears larger closer to the horizon. So a waxing wanin new and full moon and different times. One is my guess
Task
Solve the sub-puzzles to enable you to solve the meta-puzzle at the end.
Partial answers contributing to the overall solve are welcome (but, of course, do try to answer as much as you can!).
Sub-puzzles
13. Who's been erased from history?
Text representation (for copy-paste purposes, if p...
