Listener Crossword 4304: Solution Notes
Warning! by Ozzie
Puzzle explanation
Some clues had one or two occurrences of a gap replacing a single letter, and their answers were initially entered with one or two gaps, correspondingly, to produce the initial grid shown here (with bars for information). The restored letters spelt out the warning MIND THE GAP, which then filled the gaps in the grid, placing THE GAP between CARRIAGE and PLATFORM. The addition of symmetrical bars led to two barred-off cells, which were then cleared to form new gaps.
It was necessary for the inserted bars to enclose cells 6 and 42 completely, to create the two “singularities” referred to in the preamble (otherwise the result was a normally-barred grid with some non-words). The specification of personal and place names did not include words that are ordinary entries in Chambers, such as ACRE, THEREMIN and ANT. The personal names were ARI (established as a name by being clued as such for 9dn), SITA (in the “Some First Names” appendix in Chambers 2008 and earlier) and LAING (found under “Laingian” in Chambers). The place names were IROISE (clued as such for 39ac) and ADRIA (found under “Adrian” in “Some First Names”). Both place names are in the Times Atlas of the World.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Modified word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | ACRE | ARE around C(hancel) | |
| 7 | STALEST | (LAST SET) * | |
| 14 | river(M)an | THEREAFTER | THE + RAFTER around E |
| 15 | RES | RES(t) | |
| 16 | ERYTHRITOL | THIRTY * in LORE < | |
| 17 | SERA | SERAI − I(mran) | |
| 18 | RIN | ERIN − E | |
| 19 | KEEP | ((D)E(r) + P(rozess)) after (K + E); ref. protagonists known as K in both works | |
| 20 | SIRCAR | SIR + CAREER − E’ER | |
| 23 | RIA | RI + A | |
| 25 | GERBE | LINGER BEHIND − LIN − HIND | |
| 27 | Miss(I)on | EMBAY | EMBASSY − SS |
| 28 | EAR | (h)EAR(ing) | |
| 29 | SPLAT | 2 meanings | |
| 30 | FORMANT | FOR MAN + T’ | |
| 32 | TYPE O | (ar)TY PEO(ple) | |
| 34 | REND | R (ref. 38dn) + END | |
| 37 | STATING | STATIN + G | |
| 39 | IROISE | I + ROSE around I | |
| 40 | IRANIANS | I RAN + I RAN − R + S | |
| 41 | REEST | RE + EST | |
| 42 | LEAR | EARL with last letter moved forward | |
| 43 | GO | 3 meanings | |
| Down | |||
| 2 | CHERIMOYERS | CHER + I + (MORE + S(ex)Y) * | |
| 3 | RESORBS | RES + ORBS | |
| 4 | ERE | ’ERE; ref. 5dn | |
| 5 | HERE | ADHERE − AD | |
| 6 | i(N)set | TYR | (Divini)TY R(esearcher) |
| 7 | With(D)raw, kin(D)led | START | TRATS < |
| 8 | Livings(T)on, con(T)rolling | THRIFT | TIFT around HR |
| 9 | wit(H)in | ARI | A1 around R |
| 10 | LAIN | LA(t)IN | |
| 11 | EFT | LEFT − L | |
| 12 | TELEBANKING | (BANI + LEK) * in (TEN + G) | |
| 13 | PROPERTIES | PROP + (TRIES + E(asily)) * | |
| 14 | TRISECTRIX | RESTRICT * + IX | |
| 17 | SCAPE | S + CAPE | |
| 19 | KEY | 3 meanings | |
| 21 | cat(E)ring | ALOOS | AS around LOO |
| 22 | qua(G)gas | RASSES | R(adon) + ASSES |
| 24 | car(A)pace | AORTAL | ((f)LAT ROA(d)) < |
| 25 | car(P)entered | GROIN | G + IRON * |
| 26 | REALGAR | LARGE * + A + R | |
| 31 | MANIA | (A + IN A + M) < | |
| 33 | AT IT | A + TIT | |
| 35 | NOR | NOR + N = NORN; 2 meanings | |
| 36 | DIE | DIE(t) | |
| 38 | ARS | (p)R(ima)R(y inst)R(uction); ref. the three R’s | |