Monday 9 February 2009

Container and Content Indicators

The last post described container clues and the indicators that go with this clue type.

Here's a compilation of frequently seen containment indicators, grouped into two categories: content indicators describe putting the inner word within the outer word, and container indicators describe wrapping the outer word around the inner word.

Content Indicators - Inner Word Inside Outer Word

ABOARD
ACCOMMODATED
ADMITTED
AMIDST
BESIEGED
BETWEEN
BOARDING
BOXED
BREAKING
BRIDGED
BURIED
CARRIED BY
CAUGHT
CIRCLED
CONTAINED
CONTENTS
COVERED
CLUTCHED
DIVIDING
EMBRACED

ENCIRCLED
ENFOLDED
ENTERING
ENVELOPED
FILLING
FLANKED
GRASPED
HARBOURED
HELD
HOUSED
IMBIBED
IN
INCLUDED IN
INSIDE
INTERNAL
INTERRUPTING
INTRODUCED
INWARDLY
LINING

OCCUPYING
PACKING
PARTING
PENETRATING
PIERCING
RESTRAINED
RINGED
SEPARATING
SHELTERED
SPLITTING
STUFFING
SURROUNDED
SWALLOWED
TAKEN IN
TUCKED INTO
WITHIN
WRAPPED

Container Indicator -  Outer Word Around Inner Word

ABOUT
ACCEPTS
ADMITS
AROUND
BESIEGES
BOXES
BRIDGES
CAPTURES
CARRIES
CATCHES
CIRCLING
CLUTCHES
CONCEALING
CONTAINING
COVERS
EMBRACING

ENCIRCLES
ENFOLDS
ENVELOPING
ENVELOPS
EXTERNAL
FLANKS
FRAMES
GRASPING
HARBOURING
HOLDS
HOUSES
HOUSING
INCLUDING
OUTSIDE
OUTWARDLY
OVERWHELMS

PROTECTS
RECEIVES
RESTRAINS
RINGS
ROUND
SHELTERING
SURROUNDINGS
SURROUNDS
SWALLOWS
TAKES IN
TRAPS
WITHOUT
WRAPS

Notes:

  • Consider variants of the word as well – e.g. COVERS => COVER, COVERING etc.
  • Words that act as indicators may not always be indicators e.g. ABOUT can be an abbreviation for RE or CA, COVERS can be part of a charade clue to mean TENTS.
  • This is an illustrative list, not a comprehensive one. Expect the unexpected, that's half the charm of crossword-solving.

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2 comments

Raghunath said...

THC 9479 dated 13th March.

9 - Look fixedly at holy trees AROUND summer houses (7) -
GAZE{BOS}

AROUND does not fall under Content Indicators category

18 - WRAPPING pasty is wise in a seaside place (7) - S{WAN}AGE.

WRAPPING does fall under the category of Content Indicators.


11 - Fire escape on BOARD ship (6) - FUNNEL.

BOARD seems to be superflous, as it does not add maening to the clue?

Shuchi said...

Hi Raghunath,

Look fixedly at holy trees around summer houses (7) is a charade, not a c/c type [GAZE + BOS = GAZEBOS]. Here AROUND is only a connector. AROUND can be a container indicator otherwise, and is also listed above (2nd table).

Wrapping pasty is wise in a seaside place (7) - S{WAN}AGE
This can be parsed as "wise wraps pasty". WRAPS is there in the Container Indicators category (2nd table). I haven't put in all variants of the indicators in tense or number; these can be easily derived.

This list is only meant as a broad guide; it does not cover all c/c indicators possible. Take this clue for e.g.: Father entertains first girl with Elvis hit (5). "entertains" works as a container indicator in this clue but it's an atypical way of using this word, you won't find it listed as a regular c/c indicator.

Fire escape on BOARD ship (6) - FUNNEL
Hmmm...this clue has come in for flak everywhere. There was some discussion about it on the Colonel's blog yesterday. Check it out.