Curry by Kea

Puzzle explanation

Letters removed from clues to normal entries gave “King James Proverbs Thirty-one Ten”, leading to the Biblical verse “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (also in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations). Six forms of ruby appear vertically at the bottom of the grid, and these had to be entered or highlighted in red. They were “used in the hunt” by revealing initially, directly above them in the top (most distant) row, DEARTH (a high price). This word therefore had to be replaced by a woman’s name, ARETHA, meaning “virtue”, such that new words were formed. Jumbled answers were 1ac cradle, 6ac reach, 2dn cusped, 3dn bona, 4dn Réaumur, 5dn moot, 6dn sight. The title, an obsolete form of “quarry”, was suggested by “Ruby (Murray)”, rhyming slang for a curry (in the Oxford English Dictionary).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Letter + New word Answer Explanation
ACROSS
1 [jumble] CRADLE (ELD + ARC) <
6 [jumble] REACH R + EACH
11 K + laws ← walks ABROGATOR A + BROGA(n) + TOR
12 I + staleness ← essentials CACHOU CATCH OUT – T (twice)
13 N + verse ← Severn MIURUS (SUR(f) U(p) I(n) M(y)) <
14 G + Arable ← Algebra LEE Hidden: (Boo)LE E(xpounded)
16 J + trees ← jester OSCINE O + S + CINE
17 A + lost ← alto’s AMPUTEE A + (PUT in MEE(t))
19 M + hearten ← earthmen REASSURED USS (rev) in REARED
21 E + ensuing ← ingénues ET SEQUENS E + SET* + QUE(e)NS
25 S + Filo ← Foils BAKLAVA LAVA after BAK(e)
26 P + lilies ← illipes SCILLA LILACS*
29 R + Has ← Rash CAN CANE – (Shakespear)E
30 O + trees ← stereo BEN-OIL BE-NOIL (facetious construction of BE- type)
31 V + arteries ← arrestive AORTIC O in ARTIC
32 E + wings ← sewing CLEOPATRA Two definitions; ref Queen Cleopatra's needles
33 R + fusing ← surfing WELDS W(ebspac)E + L(a)DS
34 B + meant ← batmen ETTLED DEL(oi)TTE <; ref well-known accountants
Down
1 S + Shade ← Dashes CYCLAMEN CYCLEMEN with A for E
2 [jumble] CUSPED CU + SPED; ref phase of moon
3 [jumble] BONA BOLOGNA – LOG
4 [jumble] RÉAUMUR RUMOUR – O about EA; ref temperature scale
5 [jumble] MOOT MOO + T
6 [jumble] SIGHT (G in THIS) <; stack and sight both mean a large quantity
7 T + manner ← remnant RAUCOUSLY (f)RAU(d) + (s)COU(t) + SLY
8 H + steps ← thesps ÉTRIER ((a)RE (p)IR(a)TE(s)) < ramp = climb
9 I + Act ← Cait COUNTERVAIL (UNTER (German) + VA) in COIL
10 R + sac ← scar HAEMATOCELE (ECO + TAME) < in HALE
15 T + race ← crate PURE-BLOOD REBLOO(m) in PUD
18 Y + Up-to-date ← Autotyped ADVANCED AD about (DANCE about V)
20 O + basin ← Bosnia SEA GATE SEE about A GAT
22 N + stone ← sonnet SPINEL SPINE (Strength of Will) + L; “Will” was a deliberate misdirection to Shakespeare
23 E + verse ← severe DACTYL CT in DAYL(ight)
24 T + one’s ← notes FLIPS FL + (P in IS)
27 E + Sadly ← Delays ALAS ATLAS – T
28 N + Dover ← Vendor PORT POT about R
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