Dilemma by Aedites

Puzzle explanation

Corrections to misprints in the across clues spelt “Hamlet, act three, scene one”, the location of Hamlet’s soliloquy. The initial words of it, “To be or not to be, (that) is the (question)” formed a question mark in the grid.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprint Answer Explanation
Across
1 (H)old PALMAE MA in PALE
6 pl(A)y ORESTES (SET + SERO(w)) <; ref. play by Euripides
13 Fro(M) WHENCE (N(iggled) C(roaks)) in WHEE
15 stoo(L) TABORET TAT around BORE
16 hu(E) TONER T + ONER
17 (T)enet AVATAR A + VA + TAR
18 p(A)inted ACETONE ACE + TONE
19 de(C)ided MINDSET MIND + SET
20 (T)ag CLICHÉ LICH in CE
22 (T)ight OILED FOILED − F
23 (H)an NATIVE DATIVE with N for the first letter
24 pa(R)t BREGMA EMBARGO * − O
26 stag(E) STATE 2 meanings
27 (E)ft LIZARD L + IZARD
30 (S)inker SETTLER TRESTLE *
32 De(C)ayed CORRUPT COR + UP in RT
33 tre(E) SOUARI SOAR around U + I
35 o(N)e UNIAT UNIT around A
36 sp(E)d HURRIED CURRIED with H (hot) for C (cold)
37 R(O)d SLEEVE LEVEES *
38 ra(N)k ELEVATE EV(e) in ELATE
39 M(E)ss TOUSLE US in TOLE
Down
1   PUTAMEN PUT + À + MEN
2   LABAN LA + BAN
3   MOOT COOT with M (1000) for C (100)
4   ABRASIVE SIVE(r) after ARBA <
5   EWER (f)EWER
7   RESCUE CUE after RES(t)
8   ENTER RENTER − R
9   TENOR 2 meanings
10   EVEN-TEMPERED (EMPEROR − OR) in (EVENT + ED)
11   SHREWD SHREW + D(ust-up)
12   NAVIGATIONAL NATIONAL around (VIGIA − I)
14   COTTIER COT + TIER
18   ATHEIST AT + HEIST
21   LITERAL LATERAL with second letter advanced 8 places alphabetically
22   ORATORIO ORATOR + IO
25   ABRIDGE BRIDGE after A
26   SECURE CUR in SEE
27   LAPPET APPLET *
28   PRISE homophone of PRIZE
29   BUTEA BU(y) + TEA
31   LAIRS RAILS with L (left) and R (right) switched
33   SUET S(kimmers) U(sed) E(very) T(uesday)
34   URDU (Yo)UR DU(ties)
Back to 2017 menu