A Real Conundrum From Literary Review Crossword!!

[vygotsky]

Dear Friends - please help. I don't expect a spelling mistake by this setter, but who knows?

6d is: Reportedly where a cat sat, a hole form of imitative sound... (12) o???a?t?p?e?a - I have onomatopoeia, which I think is right, BUT... 9ac is: What might bore everyone listening (3) ??l. The first blank would be the 'o' from onomatopoeia, but the answer should be 'awl', I think. What should I do??? I'm REALLY grateful for any advice!
Thanks!!!!

[dannyk13]

Onomatopoeia

[vygotsky]

Thanks DannyK but then - what about o?l for 9ac (see above)?
I think the setter might have mis-spelt onomatopoeia...
Thanks again

[dannyk13]

That would give on a mat which would fit with where the cat sat, but it would be an incorrect spelling.Looks like a setter's error.

[vygotsky]

Yes - thanks DannyK!!!

[ProfessorMaisie]

The cat part works but I can't make sense of the word 'hole' in the clue.
If it was HOLY then 'reportedly' (sounds like) 'pia' (fem 'pious') would complete the wordplay and you could be pretty sure it's a mistake by the setter.

[dannyk13]

Hole could be the 3rd 'o' and poeia could be form as in:-
http://www.yourdictionary.com/poeia
However you look at it seems a poor clue IMO.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Thanks dannyk13 - I suppose it could work in that way, although it's a bit of a stretch!

[dannyk13]

As I said Maisie, a poor clue, and a setters error.

[ProfessorMaisie]

My suggestion would have had the advantage of improving the surface reading but how many setter errors can we factor in to make it work?
I was hoping vygotsky might have made another tiny error (like the extra '?' in the given letters).
The setter's error is much worse, if indeed it is one.

[dannyk13]

I think that the only thing we can be sure of is that Onomatopoeia is the
correct solution.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Unless the definition is 'of imitative sound' which would give 'onomatopoeic' - and vygotsky another problem!

[dannyk13]

Chambers gives Onomatopoetic

[ProfessorMaisie]

It gives 'onomatopeic' first.

[dannyk13]

vygotsky, is the clue (12) or 13 as shown in your letter pattern?

[dannyk13]

I hope that eventually, when the solution is published,vygotsky will come back to us.

[ProfessorMaisie]

...sorry I dropped that pesky 'o'.
'onomatopoeic' first.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Me too dannyk13.

[vygotsky]

Oh God!! Typing not my strong point 'hole' should be 'noble', which gives the 'peer' part of the reportedly... APOLOGIES!!
Thanks all for confirming - definitely setter error. I'm going to split the sure with an 'o' and an 'a' to satisfy both.
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

[vygotsky]

sure should be square - oooops again :(

[Mamyalynne]

I did wonder as there was a similar clue some years back that caused confusion for those with differing pronunciations.

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1420003.html