60 GAMES WORLD^ OF PUZZLES | december 2019
For tips on solving cryptic crosswords, send a stamped return envelope to “Cryptic Solving Guide,” GAMES WORLD OF PUZZLES, P.O. Box 184, Fort Washington, PA 19034.Each clue in a cryptic crossword has two parts: a definition of the answer and an indication of the answer’s literal makeup
via wordplay. Either half may come first; finding the dividing point between the two parts is the key to solving. On page
61, eight common methods by which hints are given via wordplay are described; any combination of these gimmicks
may be used.
Expect to see references to abbreviations (doctor for DR, Hawaii for HI, or university for U), chemical symbols (iron
for Fe), Roman numerals (five for V), and parts of words (end of year for R, head of cabbage for C, or heart of stone
for O). A clue with an exclamation point may be what’s called an & lit. clue, in which the two halves overlap, so the
whole clue is both a definition and a cryptic indication of the answer, as in Terribly angered! for ENRAGED (see
“anagrams” on page 61). Give these puzzles a try! ANSWERS, PAGE 79'ǚǓǜǘǣȱ'ǚǝǙǙǕǝǚȰ BY MARIE BARRETT
ACROSS
1 The lunar alien seen
by observatory, finally,
is extraterrestrial (9)
6 Shinny up cedar’s
top branch (5)
9 Reasonable soldier
captured by
local (7)
10 Better shredder,
they say (7)
11 Originally held back by
Pickett’s riflemen (5)
12 Begin to develop a regi-
ment surreptitiously (9)
13 Enclosed renovated
inn later (8)
15 Discussed forecaster’s
net income (6)
18 Edges away from
ogre that hurts
curmudgeon (6)20 Uncle obtains
unresponsive
vehicle (8)
23 Someone aboard Mir
cut sandwiches as
moon turned (9)
24 Pope raved
about theater
production (5)
26 Talk in jargon in a
saloon (7)27 Shaking most of blue
intravenous drip near
emergency room (7)
28 Mollifies leaderless
bullies (5)
29 Deals out insults
about writer (9)DOWN
1 Inspirational doctor
fit plug in (9)
2 Keen English ale
without a head (5)
3 Scale maker
running through
Zurich terminal (7)
4 Hot new logo with Aries
image that jumps out
at you (8)
5 Your hosts start to gobble
sampling of tasty dairy
product (6)
6 Cold chop that is
ultimately harder and
harder to eat (7)
7 Frantic if miserably
detained on the
highway (2,7)
8 Carried loot north,
then northeast (5)
14 Large numbers
file south, following
you (9)
16 Book of words Ruth’s
rewritten describes
Esau (9)
17 Ilia isn’t indiscriminately
opening letters (8)
19 Treats Colorado and
Oklahoma migrants (7)
21 Ending is so cruel in new
presentation (7)
22 A zealot’s leader plunges
into unyielding danger (6)
23 Stockpile money,
according to reports (5)
25 Rock star lives
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