Solution to 11A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
ACROSS
9 It’s about woman you kiss, love and nest around (7) UXORIAL {U}{X}{0}{LAIR<=}
10 Part of speech, elongated formation (7) ECHELON [T]
11 Some having no work at irregularly run plant (4) F?R?
12 He fights so-so but mumbles badly (10) STUMBLEBUM*
14 Spirit accompanying, embodying god (6) WRAITH {W{RA}ITH}
15 Part of say play and plug device (8) PROTERON [CD]
18 A banished American trading antique around local region in Russia (7,8) CRIMEAN REPUBLIC {aMERICAN}*{RE{PUB}LIC}
20 Ability to see 8 Across? Positively! (8) EYESIGHT {E{YES}IGHT}
22 Day’s about scoring, look smart! (6) DAPPER {D}{cAPPER}
25 Exercising? A bit insane if physically not there (2,8) IN ABSENTIA*
DOWN
1 You, very loudly, shake up on the outside giving out a burst of laughter (6) GUFFAW {G{U}{FF}AW<=}
4 Best Judge on “Essence of Contempt” (5) ELITE {ELI}{conTEmpt}
5 Wuhan exemplified the most appropriate region kickstarting epidemic transmission initially (3,6) WET MARKET Acrostic &lit
6 Talk about the French lodge (6) CHALET {CHA{LE}T}
7 Large externally, very British drone (4) SLOB {S{L}O}{B}
8 Memorising numerous expressions, many orders, names, information? Could basically use this kind of tool (8) MNEMONIC Acrostic Semi&lit
13 Infection, not large type (4) STYE STYlE
16 Royal old ‘set’ adopted by each actor (4,6) ROLE PLAYER {R}{OLE}{P{LAY}ER}
17 Not flexible, Chinese lost space initially, became vulnerable (2,4,3) ON THIN ICE {NOT}*{CHINEsE}* There's an error in the Anagram fodder
18 Michael Caine basically is about substance (8) CHEMICAL {MICHAEL+Caine}*
21 It is un-moved! (2,4) IN-SITU* &lit
23 Famous brand of ale from the east? Absolute Zero! (6) REEBOK {BEER<=}{0K}
24 Article about sex was part of Church collection (5) TITHE {T{IT}HE}
26 Spot where you get money without love (4) ATOM {AT{0}M}
28 Blast in pizza parlour (3) ZAP [T]
Reference List
Kiss = X, Day = D, About = C, Millions = M, English = E, Very loudly = FF, Over = O, Right = R, The in French = LE, Large = L, British = B, Royal = R, Old = OLE, Black = B, South = S, Absolute Zero = 0 K, Sex = IT
11ac FERN .. fe(w) R(u)n
ReplyDeleteI took the definition as vulnerable and became as connector
ReplyDelete17d
DeleteBecame is actually anind for the Chinese -s
DeleteSorry for the fodder error. Extra 'e'.
DeleteNot flexible, Chinese lost direction, became vulnerable (2,4,3) would have done perhaps.
Another I is still needed
Delete23D Technically it should be 'from the south' isn't it ?
ReplyDeleteTechnically it should be. But I remember the argument, normal people normally solve crosswords horizontally with pen and paper!
DeleteDown clue it has to befrom the south- even for people like me who fill with pen on paper. We are filling the blank squares not writing frm left to right on plain paper.
DeleteI agree that it has to be "from the south" for a down clue.
DeleteYes. Technically from the south is a better choice. However when we clue a word, one recollects the word how it is written normally. Hence we submit single clue outside of grids in say a competition, we specify that it is a down clue. From that perspective, from the east can manage to meet the specs. Yet, from the south would have been better choice. Thanks a lot, Srikant for the observation.
Delete20A Eyesight best clue of all!
ReplyDeleteThanks
Delete+1
DeleteNice and tough one from Vidwan. Took time to solve. Enjoyed all the same.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteQuite a tough one today. I think PROTERON is not a CD. It is a GK / Def by example.
ReplyDelete"say, play and plug device" is an example of HYSTERON PROTERON (thanks to the link provided by Col) and PROTERON is part of that phrase. That's how I read it.
Part (physical part) of play and plug device (intended as typo of 'plug and play device') was the Cryptic Tool intended.
DeleteTougher/unknown words should be clued simply..basic Ximenean rule.
DeleteNot a CF
CD
DeleteIn 30A what is the wp for HAVE going around E (English)? Is "extra" the container ind?
ReplyDeleteYes Ramki. It is not standard.as per.the Azed CC reference but subjectively acceptable or otherwise.
DeleteToo many it's today, Vidhwan?
DeleteIfs
DeleteI think the anno for DAPPER is:
ReplyDeleteDay = D
look = APPEAR
about scoring = remove A (the second A in this case). CCD gives A as abbreviation for about.
D + APPEAR -A = DAPPER (smart)
Thanks Ramki. That was the intended word play.
DeleteGUFFAW,REEBOK,HAVE-HO & PROTERON could not et anno. but across letters helped me to got the letters. but anno. part quite tough. today's challenging puzzle 11a was ultimate.
ReplyDeleteFE(-W)R(-U)N