Sunday, November 7, 2010 (ST 4401)

The Sunday London Times Puzzle Number ST 4401
Publication Date in The Sunday London Times Sunday, October 3, 2010
Link to Full Review Times for the Times [ST 4401]
Times for the Times Review Written By talbinho

Introduction

Today the Citizen presents a fairly gentle piece from The Sunday London Times, one that provides a nice re-entry into the world of cryptic crosswords after my recent hiatus from them during my tour of Italy. There are no glaring errors in this puzzle - a welcome change from the last few puzzles before I left. As usual, there are a few Briticisms and archaic expressions in the puzzle. I learned a new musical term at 17d (as well as a new slang term for a toilet at 9a).

Today's Glossary

Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle

Appearing in Clues

bog - noun 2 (the bog) British informal the toilet

marge ¹ - noun British informal margarine

Appearing in Solutions

cantabile - Music adverb & adjective in a smooth singing style; noun a cantabile passage or movement: the allegro also begins with a beautiful cantabile

(Clément Philibert) Léo Delibes (1836-91) - French composer, noted particularly for his ballets Coppélia (1870) and Sylvia (1876), and the opera Lakmé (1883). [Collins English Dictionary]

loo ¹ - noun 2 British informal a toilet

p - abbreviation piano, Music adverb & adjective (especially as a direction) soft or softly; noun a passage performed or marked to be performed softly

RA - abbreviation (in the UK) Royal Academician, a member of the Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts (also Royal Academy) - an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose was to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain. Sir Joshua Reynolds was its first president and he instituted a highly influential series of annual lectures

withal - adverb archaic all the same; nevertheless (used when adding something that contrasts with a previous comment): she gave him a grateful smile, but rueful withal

Signing off for this week - Falcon