Puzzling
Back in January, 2009, I wrote a piece on GAMES magazine and honed in on my favourite puzzle format, cryptic crosswords.
As explained then, these are crosswords constructed on word plays. Each entry has two clues, one straightforward, another not so straight.
There are anagrams (things for changing times: ITEMS), homophones indicated by phrases like “we hear” and “so to speak” (relative from French seaport, reportedly: NIECE); containers, in which answers are embedded in phrases (unauthorized offering from Louisville gallery); and reversals (Will turned to vegetable: SHALLOT). There are the double definitions (former monk: PRIOR). And watch for abbreviations like FE (iron) and parts of words like YE (a couple of years). It is an intoxicating drink with a twist of lemon. The 10 sample clues below should give you a taste.
Clues:
1. Bird burning on the third element of stove (8 letters)
2. Veteran’s Administration endowment to drifter (7 ketters)
3. Celebrate around beginning of Lent, to some extent (6 letters)
4. More than one weaving machine appears (5 letters)
5. Outfit switched in forum (7 letters)
6. A name is lost to forgetfulness (7 letters)
7. Hear unconfirmed reports from lodgers (7 letters)
8. Retaliates for some craven gesture (7 letters)
9. Actor in complex tragedy (5 letters)
10. Al Capone shows muffler to pilot (8 letters)
Answers:
1. Flamingo (Flaming + O)
2. Vagrant (V.A. + grant)
3. Partly (Party + L)
4. Looms (two meanings)
5. Uniform (anagram: in forum)
6. Amnesia (anagram: a name is)
7. Roomers (rumors)
8. Avenges (crAVEN GEStures)
9. Extra (complEX TRAgedy)
10. Scarface (scarf + ace)
