Listener Crossword 4195: Solution Notes
Sum by Hotspur
Puzzle explanation
Corrections to misprints spelt out “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can machines think?’”, written by Alan Turing. The grid shows TURING MACHINE. The rows below that show the possible output of such a machine, with each letter in the right-hand half being the “sum” of the letter above and the corresponding letter in the left-hand half of the same row, using A = 1 or 27, B = 2 or 28 etc. Thus ACHINE + REGIME = SHORAJ and so on, down to LIBRAN + SEGOLM = ENIGMA, the name of the cipher machine cracked by Turing and others at Bletchley Park. Continuing the process, ENIGMA + XAXBGN gives COGITO (“I think”), a possible response to Turing’s question. Because of the initial error in the printed grid, COGJTO was also accepted.
The process mimics the action of a Turing machine, which is determined by (1) the current state of the machine, (2) the symbol in the cell currently being scanned by the head and (3) a table of transition rules, which serve as the “program” for the machine. The title refers to the additive process as well as Descartes’ “Cogito ergo sum”.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | f(I)ne | AMENDE | (D after MEN) in AE |
| 5 | gras(P)ed | ZYGOTE | (do)ZY + GOT + E |
| 10 | f(R)esh | MINUET | UE(y) in MINT |
| 11 | disc(O)rd | AJAR | RAJA < |
| 12 | lea(P) | AXEL | AXE + (oi)L |
| 13 | l(O)w | MOODY | MOO + D(ut)Y |
| 14 | prote(S)t | EMO | (d)EMO |
| 15 | v(E)al | DELI | (cru)DE LI(quid) |
| 16 | o(T)ary | SPEARED | (P(art) + EARED) after S |
| 18 | tro(O)ps | HUSSARS | ASS < in RUSH * |
| 21 | (C)oat | UNDE | UNDER-AGE − RAGE |
| 22 | f(O)rm | ARCHETYPICAL | APICAL around (THE CRY) * |
| 25 | concer(N) | CARICATURING | (AIR CUT) * in CARING |
| 27 | Pre(S)s | PROM | PR + OM |
| 30 | MACHINE | M + A + CHINE | |
| 31 | (I)ces | REGIMES | EG in RIMES |
| 32 | Lo(D) | HORA | HO + RA |
| 34 | sho(E)s | SOX | S(can) O(pening) + X |
| 35 | Ar(R)an’s | SAUCH | S(hunned) + A + U + CH |
| 36 | coa(T)ed | MUTE | MALEMUTE − MALE |
| 38 | (H)eight | DHOW | D + H + O’ + W |
| 39 | s(E)at | LIBRAN | LIB + RAN |
| 40 | (Q)uit | GOLEMS | GO + LEMS |
| 41 | p(U)zzle | ENIGMA | (HARM + ENIGMA) * = A HAMMERING |
| Down | |||
| 1 | bonn(E) | AMAH | MAMA − M + H |
| 2 | mu(S)s | MIX | FIX with M for F |
| 3 | se(T) | NULLAH | NULL + AH |
| 4 | w(I)ll | DEMI-SEC | DEMISE + C |
| 5 | cr(O)ss | ZOOPHYTA | ZO + OP + (t)H(e)Y (s)T(e)A(l) |
| 6 | canto(N) | YODEL | cryptic definition, ref. Swiss cantons |
| 7 | (C)amp | GAY | YAG < |
| 8 | Th(A)nks | TAMED | TA + MED |
| 9 | De(N)ude | ERODE | STEVEDORE < − VETS |
| 15 | (M)illet | DURA | DURA + MEN = DURAMEN |
| 17 | b(A)ne | RICIN | R(ickets) I(sn’t) C(ommon) I(n) N(asal) |
| 19 | (C)rab | SCROG | R in SCOG |
| 20 | (H)old | IMMATURE | IMMURE around (A + T) |
| 23 | t(I)e | CHAIN UP | CHIN UP around A |
| 24 | coi(N) | ANNA | (band)ANNA |
| 26 | plan(E) | RHOMBI | RH + M(an) in OBI |
| 27 | pre(S)ent | PRODS | PR + ODS |
| 28 | s(T)ark | SHEER | homophone of SHEAR |
| 29 | S(H)anks | GLAMS | L(evity) in GAMS |
| 33 | v(I)ctor | JENA | JANE * |
| 35 | u(N)der | COW | 2 meanings |
| 37 | pea(K) | TAM | MAT < |