The Hidden Code of Cryptic Crosswords
Search in google:
That's okay, that's what they're meant to be. Crossword compilers use their own language. Understand the language and you can decipher the codes. This exceptional book lays it all bare for you. As poetry uses metaphor, amongst other devices, so crossword uses anagram and more to give words greater meaning than their face value. This book elegantly explains the crossword devices that will enable you to comprehend a good cryptic crossword puzzle. Digest this book and you will gain a strong grounding in modern crossword theory. You can put it to very satisfying use by resolving the most respected of puzzles. Perhaps you may even build yourself an enviable reputation! Finally, keep abreast of crossword thinking and theory. Just link through to www.hiddencode.co.uk. You may be a novice today but who knows, one day you, too, may be leading the thinking in the author's crossword forum!
Introduction7Why solve crossword puzzles?7How to use this book and gain value from it8Part 1An Explanation of the Way Cryptic Crosswords Work1.The Anatomy of Cryptic Clues10Key to fonts in this book122.The Original Straight Clue13The mythical origin13Straight clues14Straight and cryptic clues compared173.Hooptedoodle20Synonymcrux20Keyword20Exposition23Fulcrum24Num26Clue number29Caveat314.Crossletters33Maximising crossletter availability34Using crossletters well355.Concord37Pasop38Concord as an aid39Part of speech39Part 2Crossword Devices1.Devices Used to Construct Answers41Genus and specie41Macaroni42Numer452.Devices Used to Deconstruct Clues60Pasop60Stacking623.Devices Used to Reconstruct Clues into Answers64Abbreviation64Parabrebit76Parabreve79Anagram80Apostrophe82Bitword83Reversal884.Nonconstruction Devices89Cognation89Ellipsis89Geograph90Halph91Homograph92Hyphen94Olapsek96Paraphrase96Part 3Types of Clue1.Construction-type Clues99Buildword99Concon1002.Deconstruction-type Clues101Undix101Beheadment101Curtailment102Disheartenment1023.Reconstruction-type Clues103Acronym103Anagram103Hidden words108Partwords108Backword108Reversal110Splitword110Bridgeword111Interclue113Palindrome116Partbits116Addix116Condix118Transdeletion119Transinsertion1204.Nonconstruction-type Clues121Ammel121Antonym123Classical allusion123Debono124General knowledge125Homophone127Humer129& Lit148Nosek149Phrase151Quotation154Synonymtwin and homograph154Extended synonymtwin155The Final Word: A Caveat157Part 4Appendix: Comparative table of differences and similarities in nomenclature of segments or word parts159Glossary163Acknowledgements179Bibliography181Index183Personal Notes191
