Thursday 8 July 2010

"Without" Ado

without-in-cryptic-crosswords

WITHOUT - a word with many cryptic possibilities.

Here's a look at various roles that "without" takes on in cryptic clues.

  1. Deletion Indicator: "without" is most commonly used in deletion clues. 'A without B' = A – B.
    Times 24537: Force of men without one unpleasant emotion (11) MALEVOLENCE
                         MALE VIOLENCE (force of men) - I (one)

  2. Containment Indicator: "without" also means "on the outside", so 'A without B' can imply A contains B.
    HT 22615: Where one learned to adjust without mother (4,5) ALMA MATER
                    ALTER (adjust) around MAMA (mother)

  3. Abbreviation WO: "without" in the clue can lead to its standard abbreviation WO (w/o) in the answer. 
    Times 24542: State backing without Virginia (4) AVOW 
                         WO (without) VA (Virginia), all reversed

  4. Wordplay for an Opposite Word: "without" can turn around the meaning of the adjacent noun to produce an adjective, as in "without sin" = GOOD or "without hunger" = FED.
    Guardian 25048 (Chifonie): Managed, without issue, to be dressed in flag to become known (9) TRANSPIRE
                                             RAN (managed) SP (sine prole i.e. without issue) in TIRE (flag)

  5. Part Of The Definition: "without" can be a part of the definition.
    HT 22628: Fair? I approve, without further ado (4,4,4) JUST LIKE THAT
                    JUST (fair) LIKE THAT (I approve)

Solve These

The clues below use "without" in different ways. Can you solve them?

Times 24472: Whale film casting unknown for ability to act without direction (4,4) F _ _ _ / _ _ _ _
FT 13161 (Alberich): Without a shot youth at crease’s last out (4,3,6) S _ A _ / _ _ _ / _ _ _ R _ _
FT 13133 (Dante) : Rebel without a cause (5) R _ _ _ _
FT 13051 (Cinephile): Affect one another without reduction, without hesitation (8) I _ _ _ R _ _ T

Related Posts:

If you wish to keep track of further articles on Crossword Unclued, you can subscribe to it in a reader via RSS Feed. You can also subscribe by email and have articles delivered to your inbox, or follow me on twitter to get notified of new links.

4 comments

Anonymous said...

24472 - FREE WILLY
1361 - STAY THE COURSE

Khian said...

Shuchi,
Times 24472: Whale film casting unknown for ability to act without direction (4,4) F _ _ _ / _ _ _ _

Ans : Release the Bard

FT 13161 (Alberich): Without a shot youth at crease’s last out (4,3,6) S _ A _ / _ _ _ / _ _ _ R _ _

Ans : I will try to keep to what is on the menu.

FT 13133 (Dante) : Rebel without a cause (5) R _ _ _ _

Ans : Can i have more pay?

FT 13051 (Cinephile): Affect one another without reduction, without hesitation (8) I _ _ _ R _ _ T

Ans : Bury the play?

Just trying not to give the game away, so that others can enjoying solving them as well.

Thanks for sharing the clues. I look forward to them and they always brighten my day.

Shuchi said...

Hi Khian

A novel way of posting the answers! Glad you like the clues, thank you.

Anonymous said...

13501 - INTERACT

INTACT (without reduction)
without hesitation (around ER)

INTERACT - Affect one another

Nice clue