Thursday 21 November 2019

No 12786, Thursday 21 Nov 2019, Hypatia


ACROSS
1   Second student drafting answers initially by mail (6) POSTAL {POST}{An...s}{L}
4   Bit of code left (6) MORSEL {MORSE}{L}
9   Starts to appreciate reed instrument accompanying long solo (4) ARIA Acrostic
10 Horrid urge destroyed cavalryman (5,5) ROUGH RIDER*
11 One needs to be behind babies? (6) DIAPER [CD]
12 Nearly divide ornamental fish left for folk remedy (5-3) SHARK OIL {SHARe}{KOI}{L}
13 Also, a pope rarely conducts a TV program! (4,5) SOAP OPERA [T]
15 On either side, we assumed? (4) WORE {W{OR}E}
16 Say light meals (4) FARE (~fair)
17 Weapons’ leader boasts to Spooner (9) CROSSBOWS (~ boss crows to cross bows)
21 Energy produced trapped again in trees and bushes (8) GREENERY {G{RE}ENERY*}
22 Fall, possibly breaking head for right cause (6) REASON {(-s+r)REASON}
24 Like one’s aunt say, in comparison? (10) RELATIVELY [DD]
25 Essentially lazy, gets allowance (4) DOLE inDOLEnt
26 Change identity because man erroneously inscribed in Persian (6) RENAME {RE{MAN*}E} Ree/Persian? [T<=] See comments
27 Notice toilet cleaned by husband for one neighbour (6) ADJOIN {AD}{JO(-h+1)IN}

DOWN
1   Co-op forced to display “Right to Information” in waiting area (7) PORTICO {PO{RTI}CO*}
2   Scientist’s first instrument that’s smart (5) SHARP {Sc...t}{HARP}
3   Couple softly went after doctor taking nothing for delivery (3-4) AIR-DROP {(-p)AIR{DR}{O}(+p)P}
5   Part of animal in unopened container picked up right away (2-4) OX-HEAD {bOX}{HEArD}
6   Makes sweater — rose and soft black to clothe homeless man (could be smelly!) (5,4) STINK BOMB {KNITS<=}{B{OM}B} Anno for OM pending (Addendum - {KNITS<=}{B{hOMe}B} - See comments)
7   Check slippery fish reversing current (3,4) LEE TIDE {EDIT}{EEL}<=
8   Cursory anniversary songs loved by kids? (7,6) NURSERY RHYMES (cursory~nursery~anniversary)
14 No replica made in China (9) PORCELAIN*
16 Avoid bring up sibling in concern (7) FORBEAR {F{BRO<=}EAR}
18 Showered close to temples and worshipped (7) SPRAYED {t...eS}{PRAYED}
19 Fresh student can, after admission, be picked up to fleece (7) WOOLLEN {NE{L}{LOO}W}<=
20 Mean psychic (6) MEDIUM [DD]
23 Heard from the mouth of princess — “Old is Gold”, above all (5) AUDIO {DI}{O}<=>{AU}

Reference List
Student = L, Left = L, Again = RE, Right = R, Notice = AD, Softly = P, Man = HE, Can = LOO, Princess = DI, Old = O


31 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. So,Persian is the reversal indicator? Read from right to left.

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  3. Enjoyed solving,though could not complete.

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  4. 27a- Husband for one indicates H for I. Does 'Cleaned' reverseit?

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  5. Sree Sree I got that (pls correct typo - HOME - HE) . How is soft black = BB ?

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    Replies
    1. Col. has given the link- type of pencil.(HB,BB etc.)

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    2. I think Prasad means Homo- HO.

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    3. Then it becomes 'Manless home'!

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    4. Its hypatia, home less man = home - man.

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    5. +1 Prasad, it is Hypatia. We have to be ready to separate words and read in between!

      Well done Hypatia, it is tougher than yesterday. Thanks for the challenge. You win!!!

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  6. Though I filled in Nursery Rhyme,could not parse it.

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    Replies
    1. Me too. Innovative. Reversal

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    2. Cursory and anniversary are NURSERY RHYMES (rhymes of nursery)

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  7. Cracking Puzzle!Had to struggle to parse a few( esp Homeless man!) but loved the variety and innovative clues. COD Nursery Rhymes. Thanks Hypatia.

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  8. 26A is REE because in Persian?

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    Replies
    1. Just saw Prasad's comment. Thanks. Nice clue!

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    2. the clue is reverse T. INACRIBED IN PERSIAN, written right to left
      becaus(e man er)roneously

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    3. Col, There in the clue part, r is also to be reddened.

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  9. Variety of clues-7D nautical, 24A humorous and 1D unusual clue but clever.,
    In 3D softly indicates anagram for PAIR, I suppose.
    I need explanation for 1A.
    V. good fare from Hypatia!

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    Replies
    1. Softly is P, PAIR is couple
      1A - Second = POST, Student = L, Answers initially = A

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  10. Some nice clues but not satisfied with 25A. It’s not fair to use the indicator, essentially, on a fodder that’s not even in the clue.

    Even with 8D, thought there could have been an indicator for the unusual device - like a !, ? or perhaps.

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  11. I loved INdoleNT.First time I have come across such a clue. Not giving indicator for deletion of INNT is very INNovative! Indolent folks depend upon dole!

    AUDIO.au for gold,di for princess with O for OLD is so la di da! .Thanks Sowmyaji for the grid that brought a lot of aha grins!

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  12. Challenging grid, thanks Hypatia! Loved Nursery rhymes.
    13A is a telescopic and not anagram. Col, request you to kindly correct it.

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