Spectator 2578 Torture By Pabulum (The Final Straw... )

[Matakari]

Hi there, I’ve got a full grid except for the unclueds which still have me flummoxed. A hint suggests that the “same word” is a 4-letter down answer, and I have a few unlueds that I’m not sure of:
1a BONES, 4a VENGEANCE, 41a FRAMEWORK, 42a CRANK
Am I on the right track? Thanks for guidance!

[FreyaBee]

I have looked under 7 and the word that follows the headword is a puppet with Judy ! This does not match my answer to 15d which ends with N and is a winning score in Judo. Do I need a brain transplant :o)

[novalis]

In my latest edition 7 gives 'an aphetic' fo r arrack. Look up arrack.

[Tilly2]

So if I look up R??K in my Chambers crossword dictionary, all the answers will be there?

[FreyaBee]

Thanks novalis. That was the word I was thinking of in my post at 15.48 so all done now.

[novalis]

Yes, but read each one carefully and cross-reference 7.

[Tilly2]

I think I have the wrong dictionary.

I'm giving up!

[Matakari]

Thanks, all, I'm all done now! It was a great workout with my Chambers ( 13th Edition ) at hand.
So, never say die, Tilly, your answers are there!

[Helveticus]

As novalis mentioned, the answer to 42a is probably defined under 7 in Chambers, but I think there is a different answer which fits and is defined under 4 in Chambers. It is perhaps unsuprising that Doc failed to spot this ambiguity in Pabulum's puzzle, given that Doc has form in this regard himself.

[jazzgirl]

Helveticus
I have Chambers 12th which shows spine under def.4 but this does not match with the crossers. The other def. fits in 1a

[Tilly2]

I know I am not looking at the right things when people are mentioning definition 4 and 7.

My dictionary has a list of synonyms, in letter count order, no 4's or 7's...?

[Tilly2]

This is what I'm referring to, from Helveticus:-)

the answer to 42a is probably defined under 7 in Chambers, but I think there is a different answer which fits and is defined under 4 in Chambers

I don't know what that all means.

[Neveracrossword]

Tilly2. my Chambers has Rack.... then a definition, sometimes long. Below that there is Rack (2) then a definition, sometimes long, then Rack (3).There are eight altogether, before it moves on to a new word. All these 8 are the Headwords. If you read the definitions within each of the headwords, you'll get on well!

[novalis]

Tilly, the headword - an old instrument of torture - is repeated 8 times in Chambers. The required entries can be found in the definitions under those 8. Helveticus, I can see your point but for me there is one thematic answer for each of the 8 times the headword appears. That's why I went for my answer at 42 across.

[Neveracrossword]

Like Novalis, I matched each of the eight unclued entries with one of the Headwords.

PS The thematic word had been so strongly hinted at, its location given etc, I didn't think not to use it in my last post. I don't think this will affect anyone's solving - but apologies if it does!

[Tilly2]

Tilly, the headword - an old instrument of torture - is repeated 8 times in Chambers.

My dictionary is alphabetical (obviously) but the word R??K appears only once, along with every other word.

[Tilly2]

NAC, thank you. My dictionary's not the same format as the one you use.

I bought the wrong one, I think.

[Tilly2]

Mine is a Chambers Crossword Dictionary.

[novalis]

Is yours the Chamers Crossword Dictionary Tilly? The reference to the headword appearing 8 times applies to the Chambers Dictionary itself. Unfortunately not all the thematic answers are listed in the former.

[novalis]

Posts crossed Tilly.

[Neveracrossword]

Tilly2, thanks for the update - no wonder you were getting nowhere! Your crossword dictionary may be very useful at times, but it's the 'real' Chambers that's needed here. I don't know if it can be accessed online?