Inquisitor 86

[Rollo]

I have solved all the clues, except the one in the preamble - assuming there is a clue there.

I can complete the grid using the 17 "extra letters" from the "special clues" having drawn six bars symmetrically in the grid.

But I am not so sure that the way I have done it gives the unique solution that the "Finally" bit in the preamble referes to, because I just cannot see any relationship between the preamble, or the puzzle title, and the words I have got.

If anybody has any hints I would be grateful.

[GRM]

I've not been able to finish because I cannot determine the extra letter in 11a. However, I can assure you that the 'unique solution' is confirmed by the 'special clues'.

The answers to the 'special clues' are two real words that differ by the removal of a single letter. The words in the periphery can be treated the same way.

[Rollo]

Thanks for the reply.

It does not immediately help me, but I will persevere.

I don't think there is an extra letter in 11ac. I have ETA (anagram of eat) one definition of which is:

"formerly, a member of the lowest Japanese class, which did work considered menial or degrading."

So, a "dog's-body in Japan".

[GRM]

Thank you. I have ETA as well. My printout seemed to read 'divers cat' which is why I couldn't find the extra letter. I am obviously missing an extra letter somewhere else.

[Rollo]

I have extra letters in:

Across: 9, 10, 12, 14, 21, 23, 25, 30, 32, 37, 40, 41, 43.

Down: 5, 22, 24, 39.

I have a C for 22d, but tha\t is the one I am not too happy with.

[GRM]

Thanks. I am missing 5d. I can confirm 22d, ache (wordplay) and cache (hide) so extra letter is C.

I now see that N is the extra letter in 5d and have now finished.

[MLN:RUGBY]

I cant reach a conclusion, as I see no "unique solution".

I have 17 possible extra letters, but 1 differs from yours as I cannot make a longer word for 5down!

Got any good advice?

[Rollo]

The "extra" letter in 5d is in the wordplay, not in the definition.

dictionary = OED

means mostly = MEAN

collapsed is an anagram indicator for mean = EMA plus the extra letter N

giving OEDEMA = dropsy

[mad max]

Still trying to fit the letters in, I might be wrong but all the 17 I have the wordplay is entered. I have17a not 5d

[Rapparee]

I agree 17a, not 5d, but still trying to fit the letters in.

[suilven]

I'm still struggling on this one despite GRM's hints above. I'm guessing that the word 'real' is significant (else Loda would have simply said '....to complete words' in the preamble). Also I'm guessing that the 2 words down the central column play a part in the final denouement but they could hardly be described as 'special clues'. Can anyone drop a further hint to push me over the final step?

[GRM]

"I'm guessing that the 2 words down the central column ....."

There is no bar in this column and no instruction in the preamble to add one so surely it must be a single word (hyphenated).

[suilven]

I agree with GRM that the central column is a single hyphenated word - but I'm struggling to see its significance

[ulysses100]

I think that the answer to 10dn is drill-harrow. Both parts are implements and both parts can have one letter removed and still remain a proper word.
I still haven't been able to work out any of the others though, although middle top might be canoe (cane).

[Rollo]

As a result of what has been said here I have also abandoned 5dn and gone for 17ac as having the extra letter. Not that that has enabled me to complete the perimeter as required.

I think 10d is probably drill-harrow too, but it could be drill-barrow.

[GRM]

I don't think it is drill-barrow as there is only one B available and that is required elsewhere.

As a result of the discussion in this thead, I have revisited my solution and have found that one of the ten words I have in the perimeter cannot be reduced by one letter and still leave a proper word (well, it was late in the evening after several drams of whisky when I thought I had the solution!) .

I can correct this problem but then one of the other words (which can be shortened) is non-existent in any of the dictionaries to which I have access.

I have tried all possible permutations (I think) and cannot resolve this dilemma so I may now just await the published solution.

[GRM]

This is the first time I have attempted an Inquisitor (I thought it might make a change from the Listener, EV etc) so a word of advice please.

My original solution will stand if one of the 'cut' words is the surname of an actor (or a General) or a European town (it also happens to be a real word in French and German but I don't think this is relevant). Would this be usual for the Inquisitor and/or this setter?

[GRM]

Please ignore my last post. I have now found that a word I didn't think could be a verb (and therefore able to be conjugated) appears to be listed as such in the Shorter Oxford Dictionary (but not in the Concise Oxford Dictionary).

[Mr Crossy]

The key to the d�nouement is the last sentence of the preamble, in particular the word "Finally". The final letters of the special clues are: TBBCCRCTTCRCLLRLB (12 should end "throb", not "throbs"). T,B,L,R denote top, bottom, left and right, while C stands for corner and centre.