Solution to 2D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.
BALEFUL NURSE AT WORK
ACROSS
9 Ailments cured by fourth-grade level (9) DISMANTLE {AILMENTS}*<=>{graDe}
10 Brilliant boy, reportedly (5) SUNNY (~sonny)
11 Madhya Pradesh engineer boring boss out (7) STUMPED {STU{MP}{E}D}
12 Dislike a censored translation (7) VERSION aVERSION
13 Alarm starts to interrupt consciousness after short rest in retreat (5) PANIC {In...t}{Co...s}<=>{NAP<=}
14 Kitties back calls for jams (9) STOPPAGES {POTS<=}{PAGES}
16 Casting couch? Lamer film, answer NO? (8,7) CHEMICAL FORMULA {COUCH+LAMER+FILM+A}*
19 Orphan cat chewed up fruit with part of flower attached (9) ANTHOCARP*
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27 Sneakily get in, see for free (3,2) LET GO {GET}* in {LO}
28 "Percussion instrument? Play guitar, Richard!" says Spooner (9) DRUMSTICK (~strum dick to drumstick)
DOWN
1 Figures unpleasant matter is over after dad loosens up (4,2) ADDS UP {PUS<=}<=>{DAD}*
2 Publication of one's opinion getting student ultimately expelled by university (8) ?S?U?N?E (Addendum - ISSUANCE {1'S}{S(-t+u)UANCE - See comments)
3 Beverage lid and container retracted (counterfeit coin) (10) CAPPUCCINO {CAP}{CUP<=}{COIN*}
5 Exclude page describing very revolting enemy (5,3) LEAVE OFF {LEA{V}{FOE<=}F}
6 Person at computer hampered by mouse regularly (4) USER [T]
7 Completion of repair a month away (6) ENDING mENDING
8 Work out locations of gay man's frolicking around India (8) GYMNASIA {GAY+MANS}* over {I}
15 Bulk of wine trade by ship? (10) PORTLINESS {PORT}{LINE}{SS}
16 Man mates in India, they provide support (8) CHAPPALS {CHAP}{PALS}
17 Spiders are sad in shot (8) ARANEIDS*
20 What's left of camp after wife's entry? Unknown! (6) TWENTY {T{W}ENT}{Y}
21 "Prepare to leave partnership": U.K. capitulates, partially regressing (4,2) PACK UP [T<=]
23 Roosters absorbing first bit of light? They might awaken you alarmingly (6) CLOCKS {C{Light}OCKS}
25 Pull dramatically, showing cheek in second over (4) MOON {MO}{ON}
Reference List
Engineer = E, Answer = A, Eastern = E, University = U, Daughter = D, Son = S, Very = V, Month = M, India = I, Ship = SS, Wife = W, Unknown = Y, Second = MO, Over = ON
15d pos! Bulkiness??
ReplyDeleteWhat is the definition of 20 down. Is it the clue number cited on the left of the clue?
ReplyDeleteYes
Delete4d ABCD as A to D was beyond my thinking.
ReplyDeleteMay be similar to A to Z!
DeleteSathia
2D - ISSUANCE = Publication.
ReplyDeleteOne's. = IS
Opinion = STANCE
StudenT ultimately expelled by
University (STANCE - T + U =
SUANCE)
IS+SUANCE = ISSUANCE
Today it is quite challenging CW. Many new words to learn. Thanks Gussalufz!
ReplyDeleteSathia
Liked 16 d....chappals
ReplyDelete16 a NO means nitric oxide?
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGenerally gussalufz grid has ninas. Looks like there aren't any today. Or did I miss ??
ReplyDeleteI can see Noel and Auden. But can’t relate to the title “Baleful Nurse at work “
ReplyDeleteyeah even I noticed Noel, but then I thought this is not christmas season...
Delete28A: By spoonerism we can arrive at the solution. But how any body can relate to the Drummer Richard Drumstick unless one googles. Definition could have been a little more elaborate IMHO.
ReplyDeleteThe def should include "?".
DeleteIt's indicating at CD for drumstick as "instrument of percussion" and not exactly "percussion instrument" as noun.
Nothing to do with any drummer.
The above is imo.
DeleteAh, I didn't even realize this had been published (quite a change in order!) :-).
ReplyDeleteI'll post my notes soon. In case anyone visits this page belatedly, AUDEN is indeed the thematic nina. The title is connected, and so are a few entries.
Thanks, Col., for blogging, and many thanks to solvers for giving it a go and commenting. Here are my notes:
ReplyDelete**Notes**
This crossword's theme is the poem "Funeral Blues" (https://allpoetry.com/funeral-blues) by W. H. Auden. The title of the crossword suggests anagramming "Baleful Nurse," which yields the title of the poem.
Some key elements from the poem can be found in the grid entries. DISMANTLE SUN can be seen in 9d and part of 10d. PACK UP MOON is formed by 21d and 25d. STOP CLOCKS is seen in part of 14a and 23d.
The poet's last name is visible as a nina in the fifth row.
Death, departure, fear of death, and closure are also alluded to by the following entries: 11a (STUMPED), 13a (PANIC), 14a (STOPPAGES), 27a (LET GO), 5d (LEAVE OFF), and 7d ENDING).
**Personal notes**
I lost a very dear friend recently. Jayesh Rewatkar was my classmate in school. He was a live-life-kingsize frood who was best buddy to hundreds of folks. I'm still in shock, and couldn't help but pick a mournful theme for this crossword.
A PSA: please make arrangements to share your online accounts (user names, passwords, pins) for emails, banks, investments, retirement accounts, etc. with your family. You just never know!