Listener Crossword 4073: Solution Notes
Quartet by MynoT
Puzzle explanation
The perimeter quotation was “The four [seasons] run their course and all things are produced”, from the Analects of Confucius, as translated in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. The seasons appeared in the diagonals, contributing to the quotation in the same way as other entries.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Set 1 | |
| CEILI | I after CEIL |
| FANFARE | FAN + FARE |
| GASPED | GED about ASP |
| GNEISS | SINGER’S – R) * |
| NENES | SEEN < about N |
| PER PRO | PER [a] + PRO |
| RÉSEAUS | RES + ESAU * |
| SALPAE | SALE about PA |
| SEA-FIRE | SEA FIR + E |
| SEIRS | RISES * |
| Set 2 | |
| EASTER | Two definitions |
| ENTIRE | I in ENTRÉ(e) |
| KAUFMAN | KA + U + F + MAN |
| KNURS | K + RUNS * |
| MAHOE | A HOME * |
| MITUMBA | MBA about MUTI < |
| NGOMA | NG + O’ + MA; dictionaries give various definitions, though the basic meaning is a drum |
| RUB OUT | RU + BOUT |
| SNARERS | ARE in S(e)N(o)R(a)S |
| TANGUN | TAN [trigonometry] + GUN |
| Set 3 | |
| ADDISON | IS in ADD ON |
| ASCUS | S/C in AUS(tralia) |
| BIRKEN | RIB < + KEN |
| DISTORT | DI’S + TORT |
| DUETTI | DUE + TT + I’ |
| HODMEN | H + OD(d) + MEN [chess] |
| SOUSED | SO + USED |
| STEEM | Two definitions (both are archaic) |
| STOMPER | STOPPER, M(usic) for P |
| UTTER | NUTTER – N |
| Set 4 | |
| BESHREW | HEBREW’S * |
| ENGORE | ENGORGE – G |
| KEELERS | LEEK < + ERS |
| RAFTER | RAF + RET <; reference Pat Rafter |
| RETESTS | RE + TESTS; although this appears to be intranstive, for which there is no usage, it is consistent with the phrase “set X an examination” |
| REUTER | Homophone (ROY) + TER(m) |
| SASSE | ASS in (S + (hous)E) |
| STOLE | Two definitions |
| USENET | USE + NET |
| WEENS | WEE + NS [bridge] |