Clues by Enigmatist and Grid by Gin
Enter the prize draw by 30 November.
The background for this puzzle is a Michael Reichelt photo of the moss-covered roots of a tree.
This puzzle by Enigmatist uses a conventional 9x5x5 grid by Gin and concerns ten dates of varying historical significance. A document, a dynasty, a heroine, an artwork, a vessel, an invention, a novel, a car and a game are clued in alphabetical order of their solutions by wordplay only. The nine (each associated with a date in a different century) are to be inserted into the unnumbered, highlighted spaces wherever they will fit. Seven of these are 9-letter across/back entries. The other two (one of 8 letters and one of 10) start as across entries, but end with a change of direction. In nine further clues wordplay yields an extra letter not entered in the grid: together these letters describe events in the unclued entry at Day 35, occurring in a tenth year (in the same century as one of the other nine dates). Solvers must submit this description along with their entries. Clues are numbered in alphabetical order of their solutions.
The rubric also explains the definition of the digital root of a number and states that all ten dates share the same digital root. This is correct, but solvers should not be deterred if they find this confusing. This information is not particularly helpful, since in some cases it is difficult to be precise about the date. Solvers are not required to submit the dates with their entries.
We note that the things associated with the first nine dates have been given in chronological order: the document is the earliest and the game is the most recent. We would also advise solvers to consider the document and the artwork. These are probably the most well-known examples of their type, and both can immediately be inserted in the grid.
Enigmatist has crafted a playful and inventive puzzle from Gin’s innovative grid. We trust that solvers will enjoy this foray into the world of dating.
Day 2
Chapter with aspirate missing I hear (5)
The aspirate isn’t missing, but the word for aspirate is missing the i. So you need an abbreviation for chapter followed by the aspirate minus i to give you a word for hear. [JP]
Day 7
Potter on return also integral to German XI (6)
Not Potter on return but a word for also. Put this inside (integral to) the German for XI to give you a word meaning potter. [JP]
Day 10
Aged twin experienced breaking limb when climbing (5)
This is one of the clues where wordplay yields an extra letter. You need a short word for experienced (a particular situation or attitude): the last letter is the extraneous one. Breaking means this should be placed inside a short word for limb, and climbing means you should reverse the whole thing to give an obsolete word for a twin. [NI]
Day 12
Harsh accommodating energy and mass (5,4)
This is one of the highlighted entries, clued by wordplay only. You need a word for harsh (in the sense of a sound) and should separately insert letters for energy and mass. The answer is a dynasty. [NI]
Day 18
For auditor, is checking margins (5)
For auditor suggests a homophone, so look for a word that means margins (between pavement and road), but sounds like a word for is checking (or restraining). You should enter the word for margins. [NI]
Day 28
Blind Head of Year’s back broke? (5)
Another extra letter clue. You need a 6-letter word for blind (or lacking the organs of sight) of which the first letter is extraneous. In the remaining 5 letters you need to move Head of Year back to the end to result in a word meaning broke. [NI]
Day 31
For Teutonic people everywhere, man’s donated electronic communicator (5)
Another extra letter clue. Start with a hyphenated term meaning relating to or including all Teutonic people everywhere and remove (donate) man. Also remove the extraneous third letter to give a word for a somewhat dated electronic communicator. [NI]
Day 32
Incite Barin’s guerillas in rebellion here (7,2)
This is one of the highlighted entries, clued by wordplay only. Prince Barin is a friend of Flash Gordon and leader of a group of rebels. You need the name of the planet where this takes place, preceded by a short word for incite. The answer is a game which became a craze, resulting in people viewing the world through their mobile phones. [NI]
Day 34
Idiot wanting no help dressing bird (4)
Think of a word for idiot then take away (wanting no) a short word for help that you find around (dressing) the large South American bird. [JP]
Day 37
Serious accident close: reread maps to bypass it (5-2)
Yet another extra letter clue. Reread suggests an anagram of maps and use it to contain (bypass) a word for close (as a verb — the last letter is extraneous). The answer is a serious accident. [NI]
I am grateful to the other members of the Hints & Tips team: Garry Stripling (Gin) and Jim Pennington (Philostrate).
Happy solving!
Nick Inglis (etc)