Listener Crossword 3995: Solution Notes
Past Times by MynoT
Puzzle explanation
The unclued radial entries were the 30-day months of the French Revolutionary calendar in order. Jumbled answers are shown in the table below, as are Ring answers. The three unclued entries were liberté, égalité and fraternité. The precise positioning and orientation of the letters in the central four quadrants is unimportant, though, as the months were to be entered normally, they must be shown in the correct order.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Radials | ||
| 1a | CINERARIUM | (RARE + I + CUMIN) * |
| 1b | DIABLERIES | BLE(y) in DIARIES |
| 2a | AMBERFISH | FISH after BREAM * |
| 2b | REANIMATE | ANIMA in RETE |
| 3a | HAEMATURIA | HA(s) + EM + AT + U + AIR < |
| 3b | JIGAMAREE | JIG + A + MARE + E |
| 4a | VISCOSE | VIS + COSE |
| 4b | SUBOVATE | BUS < + OVATE |
| 5a | SEA LION | SEAL + I + ON |
| 5b | LIONESSES | NOISELESS * |
| 6a | DESOLATE | DE(n) + SO + LA + TE |
| 6b | SESTETTO | STET in SET + O |
| 7a | JETPLANE | PLAN in (JET + E) |
| 7b | TULIPANTS | TULIP + ANTS |
| 8a | ALEVIN | ALE + VIN |
| 8b | PENALTY | LANE < replacing I in PITY |
| 9a | LIAISE | LISE about AI |
| 9b | ALLYING | ALLY + IN + G |
| 10a | MISORDERS | (SORD(o) + E) in MIRS |
| 10b | WOSBIRD | WORD about IBS < |
| 11a | DEMOCRATIC | (ACTOR + MEDIC) * |
| 11b | DORICISM | (DO + IS) about RIC(h) + M(ock); “one” refers back to “party” |
| 12a | INDAGATOR | GRADATION * |
| 12b | STRADIOT | DARTS < + (TO I) < |
| Rings | ||
| 2a | JUG | Two definitions; not CAN: Chambers lists “the can” |
| 2b | BEN | Two definitions |
| 3a | ALP | A- + L + P |
| 3b | TUG | TUAREG – (A + RE) |
| 3c | MET | Hidden |
| 3d | DEITY | DIET * + Y |
| 3e | FRY | Two definitions |
| 3f | FUNDS | FUDS about N(ettle) |
| 4a | CRAG | CR + AG |
| 4b | ALNUS | A + L + NUS |
| 4c | FAH | F + A + H |
| 4d | CHASM | CH + ’AS + M |
| 4e | PREVE | EVE after PR |
| 4f | EBBED | E + B + BED |
| 5a | INSURES | INSURES * |
| 5b | UNSEAMS | US about (SEAMEN – E) |
| 5c | ENVOI | Hidden |