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Crossword

CROSSWORD CLUES- LESSON 4

RECAP
Every Cryptic Crossword clue will contain a definition or key-word describing the answer (usually at the beginning or the end), or the whole clue will be the definition.

Lesson-1 was about ANAGRAMS or a re-arrangement of the letters. We have seen a number of examples. Usually, Anagram clues contain words like 'broken', 'jumbled' etc. to indicate they are anagrams. Prasad said there was no indication of Anagram in 'Love the sweater(10)' to which the solution is 'SWEETHEART'. Though usually, an anagram is indicated , composers' licence is permitted like poetic licence. Another clue without a pointer is 'What is melting?(4)' for which the answer is 'THAW', anagram of WHAT.

Lesson-2 was about 'CHARADES, where the answer is broken into two or more manageable parts and a clue is provided for each part, usually in the same order. The elements may be defined directly or by the use of equivalents. We have seen a number of examples. Another simple example is
'Editor's wife is given morning punishment with crumpled hat(7)'

Lesson-3 was about 'CONTAINERS or SPLIT WORDS, which are similar to charades, but to get the answer that fits the definition, one part of the solution goes inside (or outside) the other, with an indicator to alert you.Again, the elements may be defined directly or by the use of equivalents. We have seen a number of examples. Another simple example is
'Endless demonstration outside state of Mrs. NauRatna(5)'

This month, I shall explain DELETIONS, in which the answer is arrived at by removing one or more letters at the begiining or end of the clue. These clues usually use flags such as "beheaded", "unbegun", and "after initial" to signal the removal of a word's first letter(s), and flags such as "endless" and "almost" to signal removal of a word's last letter(s). As with other clues, DELETION can be combined with ANAGRAM, CHARADE or SPLIT WORD.
Girl from Andean nation decapitated (6)=
OLIVIA, which is formed from BOLIVIA [minus 1st letter].

My wand almost magic(6)=
MYSTIC (Magic), which is formed when MY STICK (CHARADE for WAND) gets truncated

Jackie tie endlessly for Australian (7)=CHANDRA (Australian), which is formed when CHAN (CHARADE - Jackie CHAN) is joined with DRA (DRAW (CHARADE for TIE) without the last letter ).

I am giving all the four types of clues leading to the same answer. See if you can solve it
Par me confused in Findlay(5) (ANAGRAM)
Before mother for this lady(5) (CHARADE)
Father holds Rapid Eye Monement initially for this lady(5) (SPLIT WORD)
Before incomplete chart for Mrs. ex-NauRatna(5) (DELETION)
Solution at the bottom of the page.

As usual ten clues are given below. All the clues are any one or a combination of the four types covered so far, viz., ANAGRAM, CHARADE, CONTAINER (SPLIT WORD) and DELETION.As last time, the TYPE OF CLUE, the KEY-WORD (which is the synonym of the solution), the COMPONENTS of the solution and the SOLUTION will be revealed to you only if you want them by clicking on the button to the right. Get cracking....

Drive to find shelter and gain new (8)

Skills for suit without man (4)

Officer of second-rate outfit takes a ride around (9)

What's left for instance in decorative surroundings (6)

Exaggerate about a party(6)

Only one can work out its royal change (8)

What's believed to be revolutionary in business (5)

Chance to take ring from negligent doorman (6)

Banker slim, but topless (6)

Sadly lacking a final conclusion (4)



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The solution for all four types of clues is PREMA. I am sure you can work out all of them. But let me just say that chart is 'MAP'.