CRYPTO CLUES LIII

GAMES/World of Puzzles

May, 2019

Bob Stigger (some modification of the clues)

Words with two or more meanings (homographs) appear frequently in cryptic puzzle clues. One of the meanings of the homograph is the correct answer, but often the more common meaning is intended to deliberately mislead the solver. For example, in the clue, Odysseus' wife and a writer run off to marry, the word writer does not refer to an author. It refers to a writing implement - a pen. So the clue can be answered by PENELOPE - Odysseus' wife - made up of pen and elope (run off to marry).

 

Sometimes a word (usually of two syllabels) can have two meanings because of a shift in the accented syllable (stressonym). For example, the clue, He was hoping his garden would yield more fruits and vegetable this year, the answer would be PRODUCE. An accent on the first syllable (pro' duce) = fruits and vegetables, while an accent on the second syllable (pro duce') = yield.

 

The first two clues below are examples of these types of wordplay - in respective order.

 

 1. Pinched a woman's long fur scarf

2. Charm schools may require testing for this

3. Kingdoms concerned with charity (two words)

4. Act like a lawyer, snarling "Is sex romance?" (anagram)

5. Condiment-covered English bar becomes issue again (homograph and container)

6. Burn on fellow associated with the River Styx

7. Wicked lawless relative by marriage

8. Smart, short young fowl

 

Answers:

 

1. STOLE (pinched = stole) 

 

2. ENTRANCE (charm - admission)

 

3. REALMS (re - alms)

 

4. CROSS EXAMINE (anagram for Is sex romance?) 

 

5. REPUBLISH (re PUB lish, issue - as in magazine)

 

6. CHARON

 

7. SINISTER (sister in law)

 

8. CHIC (chick)