Listener 4076: Labour by Elint

[midazolam]

Tough debut by Elint this week. Very good surface readings with definitions not always directly linked in Chambers, which I felt made it tougher. I was only mentioning a few weeks back that with the available gadgets and the fixation that every word has to be defined directly in Chambers, the Listener is becoming solvable faster, but I am proved wrong this week. 9 across and 29 down I liked a lot.

I was lucky to get the 2 words about half way through which helped me on the way. Thanks Elint

[starwalker]

I agree wholeheartedly. This was much tougher than we have seen of late, and was still a challenge even after the theme had been uncovered.
Nice one, Elint. I'm sure we have not seen the last of you.

[AHearer]

Yes, a nice solid puzzle. I made reasonably rapid progress at first, but the top right-hand corner held me up for a bit. At first I was hoping that one of the names might link to the word to be highlighted, but when I saw what it was I realised that would have been a tough call! I, too, hope we'll be seeing more of Elint.

[dr b]

I didn't find this one to be too bad, perhaps because I stumbled upon the theme almost right away, which gave me 25a, which gave me (good candidates for) the 2 names. From there it was just plugging away. I still have to find the 8 letter word hidden in the grid, but Saturday chores beckon for the moment. Or, I may just spend some more time on the March puzzle from the Crossword Centre... What's that, dear?? Oh, it's chores then.

[jacinth]

Pretty tough again this week. I've subscribed to the Times website so I could make a Friday start and was disappointed to find myself grinding to a halt after about half an hour.
Fortunately, things picked up this morning. I've still to explain quite a few wordplays, but fortunately I guessed 25a after getting two of the eight. No doubt about the highlighting, but don't understand the title yet! Thanks.

[thebuzz999]

The title can be explained via the Chambers appendix

[Philoctetes]

Not quite finished, after dipping in through the day. But I did laugh out loud at the elegance of 36a.

[Zabadak]

Agreed on difficulty level, and with the commments on Chambers definitions. I have everything except the hidden word, which remains obstinately hidden: I'm glad jacinth believes there's no doubt about the highlighting! Perhaps I'm blinded by the etymology bit, looking for a numerical connection: am I just barking up the wrong tree? Maybe it'll dawn on me if I sleep on it.

[Jogler]

Oh Zabadak, we are so glad you posted! We had exactly the same conversation in our house - but sadly, despite sleeping on it, we are still in the dark. Trying a long walk next!

[daagg]

I did this on and off this weekend. At one point I had the whole right hand side and a blank left hand side, but I crawled round the top of the grid. I thought the clues were very good, as I groaned several times - the extra words were very well hidden. I've found the 8-letter word, but it was new too me.

There seemed to be a strange medical theme running through - is Elint a doctor?

[midazolam]

Zabadak and jogler - the highlighted word is obscure but the etymology (not the defintion) confirms the numerical connection as you were thinking.

[Zabadak]

Joglar: found it, though not a word I recognised, in a fairly conventional place for hidden words in Listener crosswords - ie not on a convoluted route. Had to do a search related to a general term for the omitted words on my electronic Chambers. Is that cheating?!

[Zabadak]

midazolam: thanks, found it just brfore you posted!

[jacinth]

Glad you found it Zabadak - please don't think I found it immediately! I was just very happy that it was unambiguously defined in Chambers. Thanks to thebuzz999 for the title nudge too.

[cluelessJoe]

Agreed, a nice debut, some very neat and challenging clues - yet all very fair .. I finished it remarkably quickly yesterday and the only elusive piece for me is the title, which I can ponder over at leisure. Yes Midazolam, I liked 29d too. Thanks Elint

[Ruthrobin]

Just made it after a long, hard slog. I found the wordplay really difficult and do hope we are in for an easier one soon! However, this did fit together very satisfactorily in the end.

[Jogler]

Back from a long walk in the hills - lots of snow still piled up - and a satisfactory pdm when we got back. Thank you for the various prompts to keep on looking, and ty Zabadak for giving the confidence that the word was there to see! The other half enjoyed the clues which I found a little convoluted for my taste, but 36 across was our favourite. The affected across entries were more to my liking and we felt that the whole puzzle was very pleasing. Thank you to Elint.

[perseverer]

I take it the 8 letter word is in Chambers 2008. Eventually I confirmed it by Googling, but it's not in my (1998) Chambers, and doesn't come up on quinapalus or Word Wizards tho' Onelook does recognise it. Perhaps its time to renew my subscription to Chambers online!

[tilbee]

Pretty standard level of setting and solution - no great 'wow' moment. The theme came very quickly, but not the final 8 letter word.

Midazolam mentions the 'gadgets' available to help,, but I think this deflects, at least personally, from the challenge. I prefer to use my own intellect, a hard copy of Chambers, and the odd reference to an encyclopedia - but each to their own.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, Perseverer, it is in 2008 and in Chambers 2003, too. That must have been its first appearance.

[tristram37]

Quite a pleasant puzzle, with harder than usual clues, though one didn't need to discover the two relevant names in order to complete it. 21 down was a problem - I could see the wordplay for the first part of the answer but the last bit defeated me.