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Cryptic Crosswords & Clues
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Complex clues
The clues that we have considered so far in this tutorial can all be considered simple clues. By that I don't necessarily mean that they are easy to solve, but that each clue employs one of the cryptic devices that we have considered.
A complex clue, on the other hand, will use two or more cryptic devices. For example, it may involve both a reversal and an anagram. Have a go at these examples:
One of the family finding sweetheart in Riviera resort (5)
Pudding with a drop of rum in elaborate feast (6)
Politician taking a long time in bill amendment (7)
Dancing bear must have backing from City (8)
King or jack? Same difference (5)
King about to be surrounded by river people in the Middle East (8)
Having prepared beans on a slice of toast, see about those not there (9)
Washing and ironing's first introduced to airport after airline withdraws (8)
Religious knight losing his head and going after former model (8)
Answer to previous exercise:
ARSON NOTING AVERS
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Cryptic Crosswords & Clues
& Lit Clues
The term & lit. is a contraction of “and literally so”. It refers to a special type of cryptic clue - one which consists of a cryptic indication of the solution but which contains no definition part. Instead, the clue as a whole functions as the definition.
If this is not immediately clear, an example may elucidate. Consider the following clue for VILE:
Terribly evil! (4)
Here we have a a simple cryptic indication: anagram indicator (terribly) and anagram fodder (evil). But the whole clue also functions as a straightforward definition of the solution.
Many cryptic crossword devotees regard the & lit clue with particular veneration. Such clues are not encountered every day, because devising a good original & lit clue is no easy task. Here are a few more examples:
Angered? Awfully! (7)
Some insane Roman! (4)
Some careless language! (5)
An eccentric without a bit of decorum is seen! (6)
One's cold to walk over! (6)
Exercising charity's in it! (12)
The exclamation mark at the end of a clue usually indicates that this is an & lit. clue.
For example:Start growing before rain! (5)
Answer to previous exercise:
NIECE AFTERS LIBERAL
ABERDEEN JAMES ISRAELIS
ABSENTEES ABLUTION EXEMPLAR
Last edited by Scratch---Cat (Jan. 26, 2020 13:09:04)
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- Scratch---Cat
- Scratcher
1000+ posts
Cryptic Crosswords & Clues
& Lit Clues
The term & lit. is a contraction of “and literally so”. It refers to a special type of cryptic clue - one which consists of a cryptic indication of the solution but which contains no definition part. Instead, the clue as a whole functions as the definition.
If this is not immediately clear, an example may elucidate. Consider the following clue for VILE:
Terribly evil! (4)
Here we have a a simple cryptic indication: anagram indicator (terribly) and anagram fodder (evil). But the whole clue also functions as a straightforward definition of the solution.
Many cryptic crossword devotees regard the & lit clue with particular veneration. Such clues are not encountered every day, because devising a good original & lit clue is no easy task. Here are a few more examples:
Angered? Awfully! (7)
Some insane Roman! (4)
Some careless language! (5)
An eccentric without a bit of decorum is seen! (6)
One's cold to walk over! (6)
Exercising charity's in it! (12)
The exclamation mark at the end of a clue usually indicates that this is an & lit. clue.
For example:Start growing before rain! (5)
Answer to previous exercise:
NIECE AFTERS LIBERAL
ABERDEEN JAMES ISRAELIS
ABSENTEES ABLUTION EXEMPLAR
Last edited by Scratch---Cat (Jan. 26, 2020 13:09:57)
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Cryptic Crosswords & Clues
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- Scratch---Cat
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Cryptic Crosswords & Clues
Enumeration
The enumeration indicates how many letters the answer contains, like this:CS-Chart organized foul (7)
The “(7)” indicates that the word contains 7 letters.
What if the answer contains two or more words?
Use commas, like this:Untidy dormitory! (5,4)
This means that the answer contains two words.
The former has 5 letters, the second has 4 letters.
What if the answer contains apostrophes or hyphens?
Simply use apostrophes or hyphens in the enumeration. For example:Two times - so mediocre (2-2)This means that the answer is a word that contains 4 letters – two before the hyphen and two after the hyphen.
Punctuations are omitted when the words are filled into the crossword grid.
Acronyms are considered as whole words, for example:Correctly returned and kiIIed (2)
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