Listener Crossword 4508: Solution Notes
Moon by Encota
Puzzle explanation
The name of Nick Bottom, the weaver from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, cryptically suggests the removal of the last letter of each down answer. The removed letters are “woven” into the play’s title.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | SUPERLUMINAL | (SPELL URANIUM) * |
| 10 | RADIAL | ((mis)LAID AR(ms)) < |
| 12 | APORIA | ARIA around PO |
| 13 | UNDOS | SOUND * |
| 14 | LAL | HALLAL − HAL |
| 15 | MIR | M + IR |
| 16 | MERRIER | M + (t)ERRIER |
| 18 | TOO | TOO(l) |
| 19 | HIP | HOP with I for O |
| 20 | QTO | QT + O’ |
| 22 | CAST | AS in CT |
| 23 | NO GO | NO + GO |
| 24 | VIA | V + I + A |
| 25 | TAG | 2 meanings |
| 27 | AES | SEA < |
| 28 | EURO | (n)EURO(n) |
| 29 | ELEVON | E + NOVEL < |
| 30 | CRAB | R in CAB |
| 31 | RATING | 2 meanings |
| 34 | TEA | T(ak)E(n c)A(fé) |
| 35 | SKITE | KIT in SE |
| 36 | TANSU | TANS + U |
| 37 | CODA | (A + DOC) < |
| 38 | STATOR | (ROTATES − E) < |
| 40 | TRIO | T(rifle) + RIO; ref. band Cream |
| 41 | TENPIN | TEN PI + N |
| 42 | INBRED | homophone of (IN BREAD) |
| 43 | GRAN | (buildin)G + RAN |
| 44 | POETASTERING | (OPERA SETTING) * |
| Down | ||
| 1 | STUMM | TUM in SM |
| 2 | PADRONI | P + (IN ROAD) * |
| 3 | RISING | RIG around SIN |
| 4 | LASER | 2 meanings |
| 5 | ULTRAMONTANISM | (IMMORTAL SUNTAN) * |
| 6 | MALTSTERS | MAL + TASTE − A + R(ye)S |
| 7 | NO LONGER | 2 meanings |
| 8 | ARMHOLE | LEAR with letters cycled around MHO |
| 9 | HARPOON-GUN | HARP ON around O + GUN |
| 11 | DORM | DO + RM |
| 17 | ET CETERI | ET + CE + TERI |
| 20 | QUANTITIVE | QUANT around TI + I’VE |
| 21 | OVERSCORED | OVER + SCORED |
| 22 | CARBIDES | ASCRIBED * |
| 26 | CONSONANT | CONSORT with NAN for R |
| 30 | CARIBOU | CAR + I + BOU(ght) |
| 32 | ATTIRED | AT + TIRED |
| 33 | INTERIM | TERMINI * |
| 38 | SPUTA | ((st)U(ff) + SPAT) * |
| 39 | RENGA | (child)REN GA(ve) |
| 41 | TETH | TETHER − ER |