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| Title |
Printer's Devilry |
| Setter |
Qid |
| Series |
The Listener |
| Number |
4074 |
| Date |
20/02/2010 |
| Grid |
12×12 barred grid with 90° symmetry. There is a space to be completed under the grid (2,4,4,2). |
| Preamble |
The answer to each of 12 clues must have all instances of a letter removed before entry: these 12 distinct letters spell out two keywords forming a two-word entry in The Oxford English Dictionary. The answers to another 12 clues must be encoded before entry by adding letters from one or other of the keywords: if the first of these answers were FLY, for example, it might encode to RUM by adding (using A = 1, 27, B = 2, 28, etc) the letters LIN from a keyword LINOTYPE (F+L = 6+12 = 18 = R, L+I = 12+9 = 21 = U, Y+N = 25+14 = 39 = M): the next answer would add the letters OTY, the next PEL, and so on cyclically. Each remaining clue contains a misprint of one letter; the incorrect letters give the keywords in corrupt form and the correct letters (an anagram of the keywords) give what LinotypeŽ operators would often have had in mind (to be entered in the box at the foot of the grid). Numbers in brackets indicate the lengths of grid entries. The Chambers Dictionary (2008) is the primary reference. |
| Solution Notes | Reveal Solution & Keywords |
| Acknowledgements |
Preamble and solution notes © The Times. Reproduced with permission. |
| Links |
The Times Online (subscription required)
Listen With Others blog
The Listener Crossword
Gregson Reviews |