Listener Crossword 4809: Solution Notes
Some Conceit by Vainglorious
Puzzle explanation
The extra letters in wordplay spelt out “reorder letters forming shape of cross” and “Easter by G Herbert”. Rearranging letters in the middle four columns and rows (shown here in blue in the initial grid) produced lines from George Herbert’s poem: “Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise / Without delayes” and “The crosse taught all wood to resound his name”. The puzzle was published in the Easter weekend.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | CICATRISE | [R]ISE around ARCTIC * |
| 8 | LEMED | LE[E] + MED |
| 12 | HOOPOE | (HOOP + E) around O-[O]; ref. chess notation |
| 14 | HARE’S-EAR | HARES + [R]EAR |
| 16 | RUTTY | TUT * in [D]RY |
| 17 | HAIRDO | H[E]AR around I + DO |
| 18 | LEGES | LEGE[R]S |
| 19 | LORD | DROL[L] < |
| 20 | RISP | P[E]RIS with letters cycled |
| 21 | IRISES | I[T]’S around RISE |
| 22 | SHINING | (S[T]EPHEN KING IS) * − KEEPS * |
| 24 | PAIRWISE | IR[E] in PAW + I + SE(t) |
| 26 | THOU’D | THO[R] + (r)UD(e) |
| 27 | EYALETS | EYA[S] + LETS |
| 31 | COSHERS | (CHESS [F]OR) * |
| 35 | EAT | E + [O]AT |
| 36 | GALUTH | GAL + HU[R]T * |
| 38 | WOOLD | [M]OW < + OLD |
| 40 | BROIL | R[I]B < + OIL |
| 42 | ROTAS | RAS around [N]OT |
| 44 | DUMPS ON | DUMP + SON[G] |
| 46 | UNTIES | (SUE I[S]N’T) * |
| 47 | ESC | [H]E < + SC |
| 48 | MAHDI | ([A]ID + HAM) < |
| 49 | SIESTA | S[P]IES + TA |
| 50 | SHED | SHE + [E]D |
| 51 | NAME NAMES | (SEAMEN M[O]AN) * |
| Down | ||
| 1 | CHILI | CHIL(d) + I[F] |
| 2 | CONGII | (G + ICONI[C]) * |
| 3 | APRÈS | A[R]S around PRE |
| 4 | TOUSE | TO[O] + USE |
| 5 | TESTRILL | SET < + TRILL |
| 6 | HYRACES | H(air)Y + RACES |
| 7 | THEROID | THE + DIOR < |
| 8 | LEARNT | ANTLER[S] * |
| 9 | MERINO | (Far)MER IN [S]O(uth) |
| 10 | EADS | (r)E(g)A(r)D(l)[E](s)S |
| 11 | DROPS | P[A]DS * around RO |
| 13 | OPERA | ERA[S] after O/P |
| 15 | SIRIH | RI in [T]HIS < |
| 23 | GURL | R[E]GUL(ators) * |
| 24 | PEEBLES | PEE[R] + BLES(s) |
| 25 | WEAL | WE[B] around LA < |
| 28 | YARDS | (SAY around DR[Y]) < |
| 29 | A TOUCH | CAU[G]HT * around O |
| 30 | DOURAS | AROUND * with S for N |
| 32 | SWAN IN | S[H]IN around WAN |
| 33 | HOST | (t)HOS[E] T(hings) |
| 34 | EONISM | (MONSIEU[R] − U) * |
| 36 | GIMME | G[B] around (I’M + ME) |
| 37 | SHUTE | (THE US) * |
| 39 | DISAS | DIS[E]AS(e) |
| 41 | NESH | (Da)NES H(ave) |
| 43 | CETE | C[R]ETE |
| 45 | PAD | P[T]A + D |