Solution to 1D 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.
Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.
ACROSS
1 Suggestion saving lives in plague (8) NUISANCE {NU{IS}ANCE}
5 English prince captivated by model's liveliness (6) ESPRIT {E}{S{PR}IT}
10 Bound by ultimately provocative lady in retreat, nervous (7) DELIMIT {p...vE}{L} in {TIMID<=}
11 Penny in wild beano at reception, primarily where drinks are free (4,3) OPEN BAR {O{P}ENBA*}{Re...n}
12 Arrives in hotel and sleeps (5) LANDS [T]
13 A little indisposed? Doctor sent iron supplement (9) INSERTION {In...d}{SENT+IRON}*
14 Committed offence, meddling about after consuming ecstasy (6-6) SINGLE-MINDED {SIN}{MEDDLING}* over {E}
18 Unfriendly member acting in a short film (12) MISANTHROPIC {M}{IN+A+SHORT}*{PIC}
21 Catches criminals outside plot (9) CONTRACTS {CON{TRACT}S}
23 Etna erupted around noon, concerning (5) ANENT {A{N}ENT*}
24 Smarter to avoid starter of aloo that's saltier (7) BRINIER BRaINIER
25 Description of oriental article found in quarry (7) EPITHET {E}{PI{THE}T}
26 Need a name perhaps for group of nine (6) ENNEAD {NEED+A+N}*
27 Defender in tears, so devastated by Ronaldo's header (8) ASSERTOR {TEARS+SO}*{Ro...o}
DOWN
1 Indicate procedure to excise a little round lump (6) N?D?L? (Addendum - NODULE - {NOD}{rULE} - See comments)
2 One left overwhelmed by row with girl is taking it easy (6) IDLING {1}{D{L}IN}{G}
3 Revelation of a Mafia boss confining lass on island (9) ADMISSION {A}{D{MISS}{I}ON}
4 Becoming independent by cancelling one's cable service (7,3,4) CUTTING THE CORD [DD]
6 Direct most eerie films (5) STEER [T]
7 Reconstructs pictorial puzzle to entertain one lad on vacation (8) REBUILDS {REBU{1}{LaD}S}
8 Song of lamentation is a number about retired professor (8) THRENODE {THRE{DON<=}E}
9 Noise in fancy suite? Boss snores endlessly (14) BOISTEROUSNESS {SUITE+BOSS+SNOREs}*
15 Derivative of Vitamin E - it possibly suppresses onset of neuropathy (9) IMITATIVE {VITAMIn+E+IT}*
16 Friendly maiden enthralled by excellent guy (8) AMICABLE {A{M}1}{CABLE}
17 American star, one cheating around in South American city (8) ASUNCION {A}{SUN}{C{1}ON}
19 Passionate woman turned to embrace date with love at bar (3-3) RED HOT {RE{D}H<=}{O}{T}
20 Releasing energy, revolves around stationary part of engine (6) STATOR ROTATeS<=
Reference List
English = E, Prince = PR, Lady = L, Penny = P, Ecstasy = E, Member = M, Noon = N, Oriental = E, Name = N, Left = L, Girl = G, Island = I, Maiden = M, Date = D, Bar = T, Energy = EQueen = Q
HAPPY MADRAS DAY!!! to all Chennaivasis on the occasion of Madras' 384th birthday!!
ReplyDeleteWish you the same Gowri ma'am.
DeleteIt should read 'Madrasis' instead of Chennaivasis!
ReplyDeleteWhat a boisterous anagram @ 9D!
ReplyDeleteCable service- I was struggling to fit in wire in place of cord.
ReplyDeleteI filled 9d first and the second one was 4d. I filled wire instead of cord and blinked.
ReplyDelete1Dn NODULE - {NOD}{(-r)ULE}
ReplyDeleteA more detailed anno will be nice.
DeleteDefn. is LUMP=NODULE
DeleteINDICATE-NOD; Procedure - RULE;
Excise(cut) a little round, I.e. cut R and we are left with (-r)ULE.
Result - NODULE
👍
DeleteIn 5A, model is a noun on the surface. But the substitution(sit) is a synonym of model as a verb. Similar to the 'objective' discussion we had this week.
ReplyDeleteJust a solver's observation.
It is normal for words to change its part of speech (from eg. noun to verb or preposition) between the surface readings and cryptic readings of a clue. Such double-meanings of words are commonly (ab)used by setters.
DeleteIt was a fair puzzle by Dr. X, with perhaps the top-left corner having the most cryptic clues. 4D and 9D were the keys to opening up the grid.
ReplyDeleteDON made an appearance - once as a retired professor and again as a mob leader - in a double-role similar to the films of the same name.
ENNEAD (group of nine) and THRENODE (song of lamentation) were two words of Greek origin in today's edition. There appears to be no connection to AENEID, which is a Latin epic story concerning a Trojan by the name of AENEAS.
I filled 4d as Cutting off ties & got hopelessly caught.
ReplyDeleteTo unravel & start again.... oof!
Wish DD clues would avoid options.
Otherwise a great grid from mu fav setter.
Cod - NUISANCE, SINGLE MINDED (The contrast between committed & single had me stumped till I filled in Minded).
Thanx Doc! C u next month!
Really enjoying this run from Dr X. I have a rough run through the grid at first, but I find them solvable after a few passes. Really enjoy all the regular refreshers on medical and science jargon.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't internalized guy <=> cable, and I'm not handy so I had to leave STATOR to faith. But a great and thought provoking journey as always, bigup