 |
| Cryptic Crosswords A much more challenging and satisfying version of traditional American crosswords Note: Cryptic crosswords are of British origin but the American version tends to avoid obscure words, foregn words, and names of obscure people. I'm sure some would probably say they are too easy... |
|
|
 |
| Basic Instructions: |
| Clues are made up of two parts, one providing a literal definition and the other a second definition involving some form of word play. It is up to you to decide (a) which definition comes first and (b) where one definition ends and the other begins. Additional obfuscation may be provided through misleading punctuation or by making verbs act like nouns and vice versa. The literal definitions are what regular crossword puzzles give for a clue. The second definition is the devishly sly part. It can be an anagram (same letters, different order), a reversed word, multiple words that are joined, a second literal definition, a homophone (a word that sounds the same), a phrase that contains the letters of the word in order, words that need letters omitted, or others. Types are not fixed between authors. |
| Sample Puzzle: |
 |
| Across Clues: 1 Sculpture made from smashed tar (hint: anagram of tar) 3 Sounds like fathers boy is a star (hint: homophone) 5 Prone to find answer in caption (hint: hidden within "caption") 6 Fire pop's container (hint: two definitions) 7 Beginning of an urge is a small demon (hint: an urge is an impulse) 8 Endless leader is family (hint: truncated word) 9 Pro lost first race (hint: hidden word and truncated word) 10 Obtained trimmed greek robe back (hint: reversed truncated word) 12 Yeast held in short regards is bread (hint: initial within abbr.) 13 Holds stirred cigar residue (hint: anagram) 14 Knock the average from behind (hint: reversed word) |
| Down Clues: 1 Part of a circle is what Noah built? (hint: homophone) 2 Oil ships are odd. That Nike earns. (hint: hidden within phrase, that's odd) 3 Mosquito missle (hint: two definitions) 4 Pot is up, siesta (hint: reversed word) 9 Sort of has fireplace stuff (hint: anagram) 11 Slab of butter up the beer spigot (hint: reversed word) |
| (Hover over grid to see answers) |
 |
|
|
|