Listener Crossword 4167: Solution Notes
Lawbreaker by Stick Insect
Puzzle explanation
Each clash is between C and H, representing cold and hot. James Clerk Maxwell devised a thought experiment (first recorded in a letter of 11 December 1867) to show how the Second Law of Thermodynamics might be violated, in which MAXWELL’S DEMON controls a tiny DOOR allowing slower (colder) molecules in a gas to accumulate on one side and faster (hotter) ones on the other. HEAT at 13 across in the right half of the grid indicates the side on which Hs were to accumulate.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | AFAR | (se)AFAR(er) |
| ASPS | A + SP + (viciou)S | |
| 4 | POMADE | PO + MADE |
| ESTEEM | EM around (S + TEE) | |
| 9 | SILENI | ((b)ES(t) + (w)IL(d) + (v)IN(e)) * |
| INSTAR | STRAIN * | |
| 10 | RIMA | AMIR < |
| SHAH | HAS * + H(ereditary) | |
| 11 | HASHING | HAG around SHIN |
| DUVETYN | DUVET + Y(ar)N | |
| 13 | HEAT | HE + AT |
| ENEW | E(xcels) N(onetheless) E(nds) W(ith) | |
| 14 | ACCELERATOR PRINCIPLE | (PRICE RATIO PER CELL CAN) * |
| THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE | (HEN FEED TO GET HEN WITH + D) * | |
| 18 | DEAR | 3 meanings |
| M + AIL | ||
| 22 | BELIEVE | BE(n) + LIEVE |
| PROBALL | PRO + BALL | |
| 23 | NECK | 2 meanings |
| ETHE | ETHE(l) | |
| 24 | SHEWEL | SHE + WEL(l) |
| HIDDEN | D in HIDE + N | |
| 25 | ERIACH | ARCHIE * |
| MICMAC | I in MCM + AC | |
| 26 | CYST | (Lu)CY ST(oner) |
| DORS | DO(do) + RS | |
| Down | ||
| 1 | ASCI | A + SCI |
| AIDE | A + IDE | |
| 2 | SNUFF-PAPER | NURSE * around (FF + PAP) |
| FIANCHETTI | (NICE IF THAT) * | |
| 3 | RECITER | ER after (REC + IT) |
| STENCIL | ’S + CLIENT * | |
| 4 | ENIAC | A in CINE < |
| PATTE | PATTE(r) | |
| 5 | ORYX | (Y + X) after OR |
| SIND | IS < + (AND − A) | |
| 6 | EIGNE | GENIE * |
| ACNED | A + C + NED | |
| 7 | DATAGLOVES | (A + TAD ) < + (GLOBES with V for B) |
| EMMENTALER | ETERNAL * around (M + M + E(ngland)) | |
| 8 | ECU | (cor)E CU(rriculum) |
| MAX | X after MA | |
| 12 | VET | VEST − S |
| SYE | S + YET − T(ear) | |
| 13 | ENROBED | (BEN + DO + RE) * |
| CEILIDH | (E(xperimentation) + I) in CHILD * | |
| 15 | HANCH | HAN + CH |
| RISHI | IRISH * | |
| 16 | HYLIC | (healt)HY LIC(e) |
| EPOCH | (O(bese) + CH) after EP | |
| 17 | ANA | AN + A |
| PIE | I in PE | |
| 19 | PECH | PEACH − A(ndromeda) |
| URSA | (o)UR SA(nity) | |
| 20 | ELLS | (L(abour) + L) in ES |
| VENT | 2 meanings | |
| 21 | ONE | ON + E |
| GEM | G + EMU − U | |