To all our viewers

Salutation to unknowns; around three-quarters appear about a quarter of an hour earlier. (1,5,3,4)

Crossword 9 Answers Explanation

EXPLANATION FOR CROSSWORD 9

ACROSS:
1. Insertion of dreadful pun inside it (5)
Definition ‘Insertion’: letters of ‘pun’ (dreadful = rearrange) inside ‘it’ = INPUT

4. Wonderful purse design (5)
Definition ‘Wonderful’: anagram (design) of ‘purse’ = SUPER

7.Child of resonance (3)
 Definition ‘Child’: ‘of’ indicating within ‘resonance’ = SON


9. Decorated or terribly neat (6)
Definition ‘Decorated’: ‘or’ plus anagram (terribly) of ‘neat’ = ORNATE

11. Local man gets collected (4)
Definition ‘collected’: ‘gets’ indicating content of ‘Local man’ = CALM  
                             
12. Confirmation about tree (3)
Definition ‘tree’: ‘about’ indicating content of ‘Confirmation’ = FIR

13. No moons affected by seasonal wind (7)
Definition ‘seasonal wind’: ‘affected’ indicating anagram of ‘No moons’ = MONSOON

15. Student deserved to be wise (7)
Definition ‘wise’: compound of ‘Student’ = L plus ‘deserved’ = earned = LEARNED

18. Objection to returning tub (3)
Definition ‘Objection’: ‘returning’ indicating reversing ‘tub’ = BUT

19. Mad for food (4)
Double definition of ‘Mad’ and ‘food’ = NUTS

20. A drama about ships (6)
Definition ‘ships’: ‘about’ indicating anagram of ‘A drama’ = ARMADA

23. Lose argument about the Baltic, say (3)
Definition ‘ the Baltic’: ‘about’ indicating content of ‘Lose argument’ = SEA

24. Wait to play the first shot (5)
Double definition of ‘Wait’ and ‘play the first shot’ = SERVE

25. Lions’ conceit (5)
Double definition of ‘ Lions’ and ‘conceit’ = PRIDE

DOWN

1. Club putting away small pieces of metal (4,7)
Definition ‘small pieces of metal’: compound expression of ‘Club’ = iron plus ‘putting away’ = filing(s) = IRON FILINGS

2. Refusal to include country (3)
Definition ‘country’: ‘to include’ indicating content of ‘Refusal’ = USA

3. Baby’s drink (3)
Double definition of ‘baby’ and ‘drink’ = TOT

5. Quiet instrument (5)
Double definition of ‘Quiet’ and ‘instrument’ = PIANO

6. Argue about monster scale (11)
Definition ‘Argue’: ‘about’ indicating anagram of ‘monster’ plus synonym for ‘scale’ = rate = REMONSTRATE

8. One Roman’s emperor (4)
Definition ‘emperor’: apostrophe ‘s’ of ‘One Roman’s’ indicating content = NERO (whole clue could also be definition)

10. Negative out of ignorance (3)
Definition ‘Negative’: ‘out of’ indicating content of ‘ignorance’ = NOR

13. Creature of romance (3)
Definition ‘Creature’: ‘of’ indicating content of ‘romance’ = MAN

14. Agree with the head (3)
Definition is the whole clue = NOD

16. Croat turned performer (5)
Definition ‘performer’: ‘turned’ indicating anagram of ‘Croat’ = ACTOR

17. The rascal takes ages (4)
Definition ‘ages’: ‘takes’ indicating content of ‘The rascal’ = ERAS

18. Serpent with feathers (3)
Double definition of ‘Serpent’ and ‘feathers’ = BOA

21. More polite with salesman (3)
Definition ‘salesman’: ‘with’ indicating content of ‘More polite’ = REP

22. Ruin in remarkable condition (3)
Definition ‘Ruin’: ‘in’ indicating content of ‘remarkable’ = MAR (‘condition’ conceivably superfluous but acting as ‘filler’)

John

Punctuations

Readers are well aware that punctuations judiciously used in sentences enhance ease of reading and comprehension.

Punctuations are a comparatively recent occurence. Long ago, writing was limited only to a few. As writing expanded to cover all sorts of  subjects, it incorporated and invented a few symbols. Today, there are about a dozen punctuation symbols we use in writing.

Inevitably, crossword-setters set some clues with punctuations in them serving as decoys. In rare cases, the solvers had to take them into account to reach the solution.

The clues that follow are some examples where the punctuations serve as decoys or cryptic elements.


A3: Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?" (6)   _ E _ _ _ _

B3: "Serve Duke!" I cry (4,3)   _ _ _ _  O _ _

C3: "Tom here!" (jeers)  (10)  _ _ _ _ A _ _ I _ _

Jay

From the Cryptonites...

...to all our Christian viewers :

Wish for two gifts of the Magi , one locally produced with strict contract. (5,9)

Crossword 9

Here is crossword 9.

Literary Stuff Explanation

Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.

Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
__________________________________________________________________

G2. Treasure-seeker pants hugely, having diseased liver. (4,4,6)

Analysis
Treasure-seeker pants hugely, having diseased liver.

pants hugely = long johns
diseased liver = ilver

treasure seeker : long john silver

Aesthetics

The reading is a bit strained.Somehow, pants and diseased liver are not natural connections.( as compared to pants and diseased lungs)
Also, pants hugely = long johns is a bit of a stretch. We know long johns to be "underpants with long legs"
The setter in using 'hugely" might have wanted to communicate that the clothing item is pants mainly. But I  think it does not quite work. Any one who can get a better connection - please comment.

Afterword

Treasure Island is a children's classic which adults reread throughout their life. This most famous of treasure tales , has a cast of characters never to be forgotten.One figure in that cast is responsible for the popular image of the pirate. One-legged with a parrot on his shoulder, Long John Silver is an unusual fictional character. He has many virtues in him - yet he is a mutineer. Such ambiguity in a children's story is very hard to come by. Despite his criminal intent , I remember being quite happy that he didn't swing at the end of a rope at the end. Stevenson must have loved him too.

H2. Is man left without old woman an outcast? (7) _ _ _ _ A _ L

Analysis
Is man left without old woman an outcast?

man = he
left = l
old woman = ma
without is an indicator that tells us that hel is outside ma
 is h ma e l
ishmael is an outcast.

Aesthetics

old woman as ma is not quite there. I think using "mother" would add power to the reading.

Afterword

Ishmael is mentioned in the Bible when Abraham beds Hagar, maid to his barren wife Sarah to produce a son. Ishmael is his name but when a son Isaac is granted to Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael are cast out of the tribe.

I2. He opposed the Turkish brothel local keeps. (7)

Analysis
He opposed the Turkish brothel local keeps.

keeps is the hidden indicator and within brothel local  we can see OTHELLO
It was he who opposed the Turkish in the tale by Shakespeare.

Aesthetics

Very nice reading as the solver will not separate Turkish & brothel initially.

Afterword

Though Shakespeare gave the title of his play to Othello, his version of Iago is one of the most diabolical characters ever created.The mighty general stands no chance against the Machiavellian manipulator.

Jay

Crossword 8 Answers Explanation

EXPLANATION FOR CROSSWORD 8

ACROSS

1.    Possibly great, if I’d been pleased (9). GRATIFIED. Definition is ‘pleased’. Anagram of ‘great if I’d’,  ‘possibly’ is the anagram indicator.

8.    Daughter tears weeds (5). DRIPS. Definition is ‘weeds’. ‘D for daughter’, and ‘tears’ = ‘rips’.

10.    Drama involving a rope (5). OPERA. Definition is ‘drama’. Anagram of ‘a rope’, ‘involving’ is the anagram indicator.

12.    Relaxed during conversation (3). SAT. Definition is ‘relaxed’. Hidden word.

13.    Gained raw onions outside (3). WON. Definition is ‘gained’. Hidden word.

14.    Consumer’s new ruse (4). USER. Definition is ‘consumer’. Anagram of ‘ruse’. Anagram indicator is ‘new’.

15.    Recent change to core (5). CENTRE. Definition is ‘core’. Anagram of ‘recent’. Anagram indicator is ‘change’.

16.    Isolated a section (5) APART. Double definition.

18.    Look round ship that’s not as good (6) LESSER. Definition is ‘not as good’. Ship is ‘SS’, and a synonym of look (leer), goes around it.

20.    Alright for artist to have food (4). OKRA. Definition is ‘food’. ‘Alright’ is ‘OK’, and ‘artist’ is ‘RA’.

22.    Island produce (3). COS. Double definition. ‘Cos’ is a type of lettuce, as well as (an alternative) name of a Greek island.

23.    He’s in the wrong (3). RON. Definition is ‘he” (a man’s name), and it is a hidden word.

24.    Tilts over a walking stick (5). STILT. Definition is ‘walking stick’. Anagram of ‘tilts’, and anagram indicator is ‘over’.

25.    Join military group to the East (5). UNITE.  Definition is ‘join’. Military group is ‘unit’, and abbreviation for ‘East’ is ‘E’.

26.    Fascinated by appearance with key (9). ENTRANCED. Definition is ‘fascinated’. ‘Appearance’ is ‘entrance’, and (musical) key is ‘D’.

DOWN
2.    Lift gets more money (5). RAISE. Double definition.

3.    Cricket match can be a trial (4). TEST. Double definition.

4.    Blossom like a river (6). FLOWER. A blossom is a flower, but a river is also a flower (different pronunciation!)
5.    It happened in the Seventies (5). EVENT. Definition is ‘it happened’. Hidden word.

6.    Loses dour arrangement, not humming (9). ODOURLESS. Definition is “not humming” (a bit of a tricky definition). Anagram of ‘loses dour’. Anagram indicator is ‘arrangement’.

7.    Fastidious watchman (9). CARETAKER. Double definition.

9.    Soldiers only left an umbrella (7). PARASOL. Definition is ‘parasol’. ‘Soldiers’ is ‘paras’, and ‘OL’ is an abbreviation for ‘only left’.

11.    Game of bridge (8). PONTOON. ‘Pontoon’ is a card game, as well as being part of a bridge.

15.    Scared to include transport (3). CAR. ‘Transport’ is the definition. Hidden word.

17.    Annoy new pets with hesitation (6). PESTER. The definition is ‘annoy’. Anagram of ‘pets’ plus ‘ER’ for hesitation.

19.    Heir wasted coins (5). SCION. Definition is ‘heir’. Anagram of ‘coins’.  ‘Wasted’ is the anagram indicator.

21.    Ink spilt on iron blade (5). KNIFE. Definition is ‘blade’. Anagram of ‘ink’, plus the chemical symbol for iron (FE).

23.    Destroy what’s left of the castle (4). RUIN. Double definition.

Craig and Mary