Listener Crossword 4721: Solution Notes
Quads IV by Shark
Puzzle explanation
The two Es in column 10 were changed to make their entries into MINOR ARCANA (6ac and 15dn), a term for the 56 suit cards in a Tarot deck. Illustrations of the shapes of the suits were formed by lines drawn through each suit’s name and its associated element, namely PENTACLE & EARTH, CUP & WATER, WAND & FIRE and SWORD & AIR. 31ac was changed to A E WAITE, a mystic who, with illustrator Pamela Colman Smith, created a popular tarot deck, published in 1909 by RIDER (who appeared in the grid at 13ac).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | SALOP | SPILT * around A |
| 6 | MINER | MINSTER − ST |
| 11 | NENE | (do)NENE(ss) |
| 12 | MEN-O’-WAR | RAM < around ENOW |
| 13 | RIDER | (I + RED *) after R(ace) |
| 14 | HAMATE | HAM + ATE |
| 16 | ALTS | SALT with letters cycled |
| 17 | CORNER | COR(o)NER |
| 20 | ETHERCAP | ETHER + CAP |
| 21 | ENCASH | (b)ENC(h) + ASH |
| 22 | TAMARA | TAMAR(i) + A |
| 24 | DARGAS | ASGARD * |
| 25 | ANANAS | S after (A + NANA) |
| 26 | KNEADERS | homophone of NEEDERS |
| 31 | ÉCARTÉ | E + CARTE |
| 32 | DOIT | DO + IT |
| 34 | LIERNE | (ov)ER in LINE |
| 36 | WOOER | WOOFER − F |
| 37 | LUTHIER | LUTHER around I |
| 38 | ERIE | (e)ERIE |
| 39 | SPOOF | POO in SF |
| 40 | DANTE | DATE around N |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SURA | (plea)SURA(ble) |
| 2 | ANILE | A + NILE |
| 3 | ONE’S BAG | (GAB + SEN + O) < |
| 4 | PERCE | PER CENT − NT |
| 5 | SMOOTHS | SMOOTS around H |
| 7 | INANE | IN(s)ANE |
| 8 | NOM | MON < |
| 9 | RATU | RAT + U |
| 10 | TRESPASS | TRÈS + PASS |
| 15 | ARCANE | ((gard)EN A CRA(ftsman)) < |
| 18 | NED KELLY | NELLY around (DK + (tim)E) |
| 19 | OCREAE | OCEA(n) around R + E |
| 22 | TARTARE | TARE around ART |
| 23 | MANDORA | MAN + DORA |
| 27 | DANIO | DAN + IO |
| 28 | SEWED | SEED around W |
| 29 | SWEET | 2 meanings |
| 30 | PIUS | PUS around I |
| 33 | TREE | (s)TREE(t) |
| 35 | WHO | DOCTOR WHO − DOCTOR |