Enigmatic Variations 1705 (Hints)
Oath by Shark
Hints and tips by Gabriel
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Uncertainty is always challenging: many of the clues have a misprint (19/34) which means we have to constantly assess and monitor clue type while solving. Might help to ask Gemini about the preamble. They said: “this is a very complex cryptic crossword preamble”. Yes I know.
Preamble: In clue order, corrections to definition misprints in 19 clues show how to find three parts of an OATH taken by seven members of a set whose names fill the perimeter. Two members are missing: one is hiding in plain sight but must have the contents of two cells changed to pairs of letters to show the other. One final change, however, is still required to reveal where she had been hiding (two words to be highlighted). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; 15 across is in Collins.
In plain sight obviously means that one of the members is in the grid as is – ideally, in a straight line. The other one won’t be so obvious. Let’s solve some clues first and see if we can figure out what this set is. One thing we can conclude at this point is that we’re looking for a set of 9 = 7 + 2 people given the reference to “she”.
Clues:
Across
14 In old letters, switched all but capital (5)
Wordplay pattern is a synonym for the past tense of a verb with its first letter removed producing the past participle of a verb that you probably think of normally as a noun. The synonym required a bit of Chambers confirming.
17 Old master at first gains attention for gentry’s cutlery (8, two words)
I found what looked like the definitions in Chambers but there were two options. They both looked plausible and gave me thought – but the misprint came to the rescue!
21 Made one cycling rack (6)
I wasn’t familiar with the answer and there’s a misprint involved though the wordplay involves a single straightforward, as it were, transformation.
25 Port in African country shifting terminus for coal (4)
My second to last clue solved. Probably because the first 4 words looked very much like a convincing definition. Misprint involved.
26 Can go back to find moth (6)
Needed to “phone a friend” to completely solve this. The wordplay pattern is a 3-letter synonym followed by a reversal. Interestingly, the second part can also mean the opposite.
32 Will you sing ultimately in early English? (4)
Actual last clue solved: I worked out the misprint from the emerging message. Wordplay is two single letters inside the obvious 2-letter acronym. The definition is a Greek interjection – which of course I needed to confirm in the BRB.
Down
2 Finally keen on worker – posh bird! (6)
Sometimes you just have to believe the wordplay and then check in the BRB. Pattern is a single letter, 4-letter synonym and then the usual abbreviation.
9 Worship ignoring priest – he will cause a commotion (9, two words)
Initially I guessed that the answer (5, 4) was a phrase involving a biblical character (with a very bad rep) but I couldn’t parse the name. It’s a lot more straightforward and doesn’t even involve a misprint.
12 Allowing notice, Cambridge University’s smart sacking head (9)
Not a very hard clue but worth observing that while OU is Oxford University, CU isn’t what you’d expect, at least not according to the BRB – so think of another option.
19 Learned individuals from Wisconsin use this with AI (7, two words)
AI isn’t Artificial Intelligence here – since it’s unlikely the 5-letter material referred to would be helpful to cyborgs. At least, so far.
23 Scams encompassing (anonymous) 10 historical fake maps (6)
Sometimes 10 is a clue number. Sometimes it’s a literal string. Sometimes it’s Roman. The underlining will help you figure out where the misprint must be.
Definitions in clues are underlined
Searching for the 3 parts of the oath that emerged indirectly from the message yielded a very useful page on wikipedia which allowed me to identify the relevant members on the perimeter. In particular, it lists nine members of a specific kind – seven of whom are indeed on the perimeter. Note that there are two final steps – don’t forget the second. And it’s helpful that we are left with real words. It took some time to realise that the two missing members that are in the grid (rather than on the perimeter) have something in common other than just being members of the relevant set. And finally the second final step involves revealing where “she” hid — there are only two “shes” in the set.
Toughness: 2 out of 4 on the difficulty scale .
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Morning!
I’ve completed the puzzle, really enjoyed this one. I’ve identified the hiding place but (and I know this is me missing something) I’m not sure I understand the instruction for the one final change. Does this end up with one really crowded cell or does the change completely overwrite what was in there? Or does the misunderstanding mean I just have to take a best guess?
Apropos of nothing, I won a prize in a Telegraph crossword competition (hundreds of years ago) based on this lady!
I enjoyed it too. Again the clues were quite challenging until one got into the style and the gimmick. The 2 stage reveal was fun and Google quickly came up with the required set, though the one in plain site was a good steer. Filling the perimeter was not trivial until one found the inner set and then the 2 cell changes were obvious. I share Alison’s reservation about the final change – the desired end product is clear enough and I favour an overwrite to change one answer to its archaic form [if that was intended then it’s a final flourish from a setter I’d like to see more of].
Thanks to Shark and Gabriel.
Took me a while to finish this as I disappeared down rabbit holes of my own making. I had 2 words for 26a based on what I had in the grid. One matched the clue definition, the other matched a misprint definition. I chose the wrong one. I also assumed those taking the oath numbered 9 in total, so disregarded the set I had found. Eventually it was all sorted and the end game completed.
Misprints of definitions are always going to be tricky, especially when only around half are affected. Some clues were quite difficult; like 18d – a word identified once in a 1710 diary. However, all this makes solving even more rewarding.
Thx to Shark and Gabriel
As for the final instruction, this must be an overwrite or replacement as it does result in a valid word.