Listener Crossword 4668: Solution Notes
Impossible Construction by Serpent
Puzzle explanation
The extra words in clues to the four entries that bordered the central area were “promise to settle up”, wordplay leading to “word square”. The central 6×6 area was a word square containing CIRCLE, INURES, RUDEST, CREASE, LESSEE, ESTEEM — thus “squaring the circle”, an impossible task in Euclidean geometry using only a straight edge and compasses. Bars were entered to form the boundary of the word square, and normally in the rest of the grid, forming real-word entries everywhere.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Extra word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| TRIBUNE | TUNE around RIB | |
| CARVE | CAVE around R | |
| ROBUST | BUS in ROT | |
| TANNIN | ((coloratio)N IN NAT(ural)) < | |
| promise | ORCHARD | OR + CHARD |
| LILAC | CALL < around I | |
| NEAR | (Byzanti)NE AR(chitect) | |
| UNEASIER | UNE + A + (RE + IS) < | |
| CURRY | (YR + RUC) < | |
| DEFROST | (SOFTER + (foo)D) * | |
| ACREAGE | CREA(m) in AGE | |
| PEASE | P + LEASE − L | |
| ESCAPEES | PEE in CASES * | |
| TOES | O in SET < | |
| AMEER | EPHEMERAL * = HELP + AMEER | |
| to | MAGICAL | A(mazin)G in CLAIM * |
| RETAIN | TA in REIN | |
| DERIDE | (ED around DIRE) < | |
| ALARM | A(ccountants) L(eaving) + ARM | |
| USHERED | ER in (U + SHED) | |
| Down | ||
| TRIAS | ((dr)A(ma) + IS + R(acis)T) * | |
| ROLLER | 2 meanings | |
| CURB | 2 meanings | |
| THUNDER | (HUNTER + D(read)) * | |
| CATER | CRATE with R moved to the back | |
| CARELESS | CARESS around (tru)EL(ove) | |
| SEDAN | (distres)SED AN(imal) | |
| VIRAGO | VIRGO around A(tlantic) | |
| ENSNARE | (RAN in ESNE) < | |
| Settle | PREFACE | PACE around REF |
| up | LAYETTE | LATE around YET |
| ANEURISM | (U + SEMINAR) * | |
| CAESURA | (AREA around US + C) < | |
| SEASIDE | homophone of (SEE + SIGHED) | |
| GROVEL | L after GROVE | |
| PARADE | PAR + (Asd)A (an)D (Waitros)E | |
| REALM | REAL + M(usic) | |
| STUNG | (G + NUT + S(peak)) < | |
| PALED | PLEAD with A moved up | |
| REAM | READ with M for D; ref. Roman numerals | |