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

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4 comments:

  1. 24472 - FREE WILLY
    1361 - STAY THE COURSE

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Khian

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

    ReplyDelete
  4. 13501 - INTERACT

    INTACT (without reduction)
    without hesitation (around ER)

    INTERACT - Affect one another

    Nice clue

    ReplyDelete