Listener Crossword 4653: Solution Notes
Descent by Gnomish
Puzzle explanation
The first letters of the normal clues to non-jumbled entries were QIJTNWBWRKMNZ. Adding them alphabetically to A gave A + Q = R, R + I = A, A + J = K, K + T = E, and so on, producing the title A Rake’s Progress, a series of paintings, later made into engravings, by William Hogarth. The RAKE conceptually moved from the top to the bottom of the trail of asterisked cells; in each of his eight positions the R or E was part of the description for the corresponding scene:
- HEIR
- LEVÉE
- ORGY
- ARREST
- MARRIAGE
- GAMING HOUSE
- PRISON
- MADHOUSE
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra words | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | EITHER | (I + THE) in ER | |
| 7 | limbo (PRISON) | CHERUBS | SCHUBERT * − T |
| 13 | DARWINIAN | (IA + N) after (DAR + WIN) | |
| 15 | CREE | R in CEE | |
| 16 | RAKI | RANI with K for N | |
| 17 | JAMIE | J + AMIE | |
| 18 | SELF-STARTER | (S + S) around ELF + TARTER | |
| 20 | successor (HEIR) | SCALE | C in SALE |
| 22 | SEMÉE | SEE around M(ozambiqu)E | |
| 23 | FALLING THROUGH | (R(iches) in THOUGH) after (FALL IN + (ravin)G) | |
| 27 | ALOUD | LA < + OUD | |
| 28 | ORNIS | (C)ORNIS(h) | |
| 29 | ARRAIGNMENT | ARRA(NGE <)MENT with I for E | |
| 31 | bin (MADHOUSE) | GAMIN | GAM + IN |
| 33 | EAST | BEAST − B | |
| 34 | NENE | EN < around EN | |
| 35 | CANEBRAKE | CRAKE around (A + NEB) | |
| 36 | TRANSOM | T(o) R(ear) A(nd) N(ot) S(ide) O(f) M(antel) | |
| 37 | HOUSED | HOD around USE | |
| Down | |||
| 2 | run in (ARREST) | EDAM | (fill)ED AM(ple) |
| 3 | INK-BAG | BAKING * | |
| 4 | STOAE | STONE with A(rchitect) for N | |
| 5 | OVERHAIR | O(lga) + VER(y) + HAIR | |
| 6 | REGROUPING | REGROWING with UP for W | |
| 8 | bingo-hall, perhaps (GAMING HOUSE) | HAJ | (H + J) around A |
| 9 | ERASER | EASER around (keepe)R | |
| 10 | URIEL | (U(n)I(t)E(s) + R + L) * | |
| 11 | BEEFALO | LOAF * after BEE | |
| 12 | wedding (MARRIAGE) | SEPTENNIA | SEPIA around TENN(yson) |
| 14 | GREY-HAIRED | GREY + H + AIRED | |
| 16 | reception (LEVEE) | RESULTANT | SULTAN in RET |
| 19 | ESCAPADO | E + ’S + CAPA + DO | |
| 21 | CLANGER | C(ause) L(istener) + ANGER | |
| 24 | sex party (ORGY) | FLAILS | AILS after (F + L) |
| 25 | RUSHEE | RUE around SHE | |
| 26 | ANANA | (b)ANANA(s) | |
| 28 | BURGH | (H + GRUB) < | |
| 30 | KITS | 2 meanings | |
| 32 | NEO | ONE * | |