Generalist April 2007

[lector]

27d) 1975 Scorsese film .....

according to online reference sources the answer required was released in 1973 in the USA ....

Imdb movie database states the film was released in Sweden in 1975.

[sarumite]

I also came to that conclusion lector, after realising that
"Taxi Driver" was not the required solution.

It threw me initially, as I would expect clues provided by Didymus to be bullet proof.

It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone on this one!

[lector]

no you are not alone sarumite! .....

I found this month's xword a tester / have 'finished' but, think that there are a couple of answers where discussion is needed / som eof the spelling is 'wicked' and the Question at 4d) is interesting .... I have taken the word -tissue- in the plural sense!

[sarumite]

I wasn't able to start until very late last evening and so far about 75% through it.

Perhaps the spelling deviations may explain why I am currently unable to align 17d and 22a where they intersect.

However, I will plough on regardless for the time being.

[Aquagility]

sarumite are you looking at dovekie for17d. It seems to be impossible to mate it with 22a - unless I'm totally up the creek.

[lector]

17d) is not dovekie

you are looking for another one of those scottish words (even orkney dialect) for 17d)

22d) is a straightforward 'obvious' answer, since the Bell-lyra is the 'marching' version of this instrument.

[lector]

sorry, I meant 17a)

(and now I had better 'slow down' before posting my next answer!!)

[Aquagility]

Thanks, lector. I think you did mean 17d - i don't have a 17a. and, yes, I am pretty confident of 22a.

[sarumite]

Just back from lunch so have only just seen your query Aquagility. Yes I was attempting Dovekie initially, but have now sorted that one.

I have one left that is baffling me at present, so wonder if I have something incorrect. For 13a I have H?I?Y ?O?B?T

The answer is probably Hairy something or other but research has so far failed me. Other than this I am just about finished.

I'm not looking for the answer to 13a but would be grateful for confirmation or otherwise that my letters are correct.

[lector]

hiya samurite .... a slow posting day!

i don't seem to be able to get my d) and a) right!!

above, I meant 17d) and 22a)

Now for 13a)

Your letters are correct and your 'idea' is on the right lines ....

I recall this very same answer in the one of thelast six months of this xword .... it caused a problem then ....

I have found only one online reference to the answer .... on the Association of Scrabble Players site

It is also in Chambers (but listed under the second word!)

:-))

[lector]

sarumite ...

4d) have you answered in the 'plural' or the singular ....

I have taken the word 'tissue' in the clue as a 'plural'

what do you think?

[Aquagility]

I have Hairy Woobut for 13a.

[Aquagility]

Sorry if you didn't want that - I misread your post, sarumite.

[sarumite]

Thanks lector . . I think you are correct to assume that tissue is plural in 4d, otherwise the clue should commence " A white fibrous tissue etc ......... "

Assuming that we both have the same answer it simply means using the letter E rather than I for the penultimate letter.

[lector]

entirely in agreement sarumite!

(pity about the answer from Aquagility - itchy gunfinger syndrome!)

But, I do not have the 'Aquagility spelling', which according to Chambers is the alternative spelling .... the penultimate letter in the spelling that I have used is different. (probably both will be accepted by the compiler)

[Aquagility]

Yes, but I did say sorry! Anyhow it looks as though I was wrong.

How many letters/spaces do you have for 36a?

[lector]

I do not think that you are wrong Aquagility .... I think that the compiler should accept both (like for last months answer to 4d) bunko or bunco)?

36a) the clue says 12 letters, but the grid shows 13 letters ... so, I have found a 13 letter word for the answer, because the first and last letters of the '13 word answer' go into other clues -- i.e. the Clue (12 letters) must be wrong!

If you have the answer then you will know that the first three letters of the clue are a 'common prefix' - I could only find the 10 letter word (without prefix) in Chambers - not the 13 letter answer - but i did find the whole 13 letter word answer online!

[lector]

33a) was a real wind-up by the compiler ---- luckily I started in pencil, and erased 'egg plant'!!

[lector]

also it took me a while to realise that there was a real Italian flavour about the answers ....

although 31d) is interesting - I have found both e Italian and spanish words that fit the answer - in the end I have opted for the Italian word, since it is listed in Chambers first ... and there is an Italian flavour this month!

the European flavour is very much to the fore ... Irish, Scottish, Italian, french, Latin and even russian flavourings!

I never knew before the 'early' meaning for the answer to 1a)

[sarumite]

lector .. ref your comments concerning 33a I also thought egg plant initially, but held back as it obviously would not fit with downward clues. I tend to use my first copy as a working draft to allow for corrections, and then run off a new blank copy when all is finalised.

The 13 letter answer to 36a is actually shown in Chambers, but at the bottom of the page in a separate section with this common prefix. However, it does not provide an explanation at this point, and it is necessary to view the word minus it's prefix to determine this in Chambers.

Another demanding but enjoyable puzzle from Didymus.

[lector]

Aquagility -

I forgot to say above, that I have emailed the Editor re 326a) and 27d where the clues seem factually wrong - sometimes they do isue a 'revised' puzzle / amendments!

also, I erred in what I said above re 13a)

your spelling is the alternative re Chambers -

the other spelling is different in the last word, 3rd and 5th letters!