Sunday Times Prize Crossword 4653 Sunday August 2Nd 2015

[kalahari]

Need some help parsing this one.
17 dn: Most smart new art consumer? (7) N_A_E_T
I surmise the answer is "neatest" but how?

[Lie-in King]

17d Neatest - 'n(ew)' + (thou) 'eatest' ("[thou] art consumer")

[kalahari]

Thanks Lie-in King.

[Lie-in King]

You're welcome :-)

[Davemano]

This one has been answered by LIK, but the parse has got us confused. Is it saying something which we can't grasp. Is there a simple explanation for us who don't understand, 'thou, eatest etc'

[Lie-in King]

Hi Dave - 'eatest' is an archaic form & only works with a "thou", hence my usage of it for the purposes of the parse.

King James Bible has -

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

So if "thou eatest" - then - "thou art consumer"

Hope that's helped as I'm now confusing myself! :-)

[Davemano]

Thanks LIK, that makes it suit, but it seems a hell of a complex route to have to go for a crossword answer. Even a schoolteacher as well as me was mystified. You seem well versed on the Bible, but with it being a Sunday you might have been on the right page?? Once again, thanks for your time and reply. D

[Lie-in King]

That's Mr Mayer for you! I know only odds & *** from the Bible & I Googled the quote to make sure it was accurate.

Glad to have been of some help :-)

[Lie-in King]

Censored word rather appositely rhymes with "Gods" :-)

[Davemano]

Thought that's what it was.