I found this one on the easier side, with a lot of the unfamiliar words having clear wordplay. I also spotted the possibility of the pun (PROPHECIES) across the top row helping me get 7 across.
It is my understanding that the Mephisto setters have the ability to construct their own grids (as opposed to the daily puzzle which has a set of proscribed grids). The grid this time around has very pleasing 90-degree symmetry, so with the four interlocking 12-letter entries there's plenty of words linking the quadrants.
Away we go...
It is my understanding that the Mephisto setters have the ability to construct their own grids (as opposed to the daily puzzle which has a set of proscribed grids). The grid this time around has very pleasing 90-degree symmetry, so with the four interlocking 12-letter entries there's plenty of words linking the quadrants.
Away we go...
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | PROFFER: PROF(teacher), then FR(frequently) surrounding E(eccentricity) |
| 7 | SEIZE: double definition - one being that (sweet) 16 in French is SEIZE |
| 11 | TRIANDRIA: sounds like TRY then an anagram of A,DRAIN |
| 12 | OVER: double definition - cricket and radio transmission |
| 13 | DRAG OUT: DOUT(snipe, cigarette end) surrounding RAG(make fun of, banter) |
| 14 | SENTI: SENT(got off) and I - Estonian currency |
| 16 | ORIENTEERING: anagram of O'ER,GREEN,IN,IT |
| 17 | A BAS: A BAS is french for down, ABAS are camel hair coats |
| 18 | INCONIE: IN(concerned with), CON(study, show), I.E. - fine as used by Costard in Love's Labour's Lost - "O' my troth, most sweet jests! Most INCONIE vulgar wit" |
| 21 | SONANCE: SONCE(plenty) surrounding AN(anoynmous) |
| 22 | RODS: A tribe The Bible, apparently they follow Aaron's Rod |
| 23 | PASSED MASTER: P, ASS(clot) then an anagram of STREAMED |
| 28 | RUANA: A(accepted) in RUN(a trip), A |
| 29 | RUN-OFFS: OFF(official) in RUNS |
| 30 | IBEX: VIBEX(streak under the skin) missing V(vide, see) |
| 31 | ESTUARIES: anagram of ISSUE,RATE |
| 32 | SPORT: a definition and two wordplays - both for S,PORT |
| 33 | OARLESS: OS - Ordinary Seaman, lowest ranking rating, surrounding ARLES(payment system) |
| Down | |
| 1 | PRO,SO |
| 2 | RIVERBOAT: anagram of BRAVE,TRIO |
| 3 | OWENIAN: WEN for a crowded city gave me trouble two weeks ago, and here it is again - O,WEN,I |
| 4 | FRY IN ONE'S FAT: anagram of FOR,INFANT,YES |
| 5 | EIDETIC: reversal of CITE(give an example) and DIE(pass up) |
| 6 | RARE: R(receipe, take), ARE(modern form of art) |
| 7 | SNAKE-CHARMER: anagram of RANCHER,MAKES |
| 8 | EDGER: I think this is a double definition but I may be missing something |
| 9 | IRON: RON(fellow) by I |
| 10 | EATAGES: EA(each),T(time),AGES(a long time with or without the S) |
| 15 | SNIDENESS: SN(Tin),I then an anagram of SENSED |
| 17 | ASP,IRES |
| 19 | NEMESIA: anagram of ENEMA,IS |
| 20 | NOTABLE: or NOT ABLE |
| 24 | SCOUR: hidden in recklesS COURage |
| 25 | RAXES: AXES(cuts) under R(resistance) |
| 26 | ONTO: remove PR from PRONTO |
| 27 | AFRO: O after A, FR |