Pomona Cryptic #4
By Lynne Willems Zold ’67

Directions: Fans of cryptic puzzles are sure to recognize this classic cryptic grid. For novices, each clue has two parts—a definition and a clue to the answer’s literal composition. Here are a few examples of traditional types of clues. (Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of letters in the answer.)

1. Anagrams – All letters are given, but out of order, and a word such as ‘wild’ or “upset” is used to indicate what to do: Tree got mixed up in mess. Period. (8) = semester (tree and mess jumbled).
2. Charades – The answer is given in pieces: Tavern had a meal for native (6) = innate (tavern = inn; had a meal = ate).
3. Containers – Word inside another, marked by words like ‘in’ or ‘holding’: She keeps wrap warm (7) = sheathe (heat inside she).
4. Hidden answers – The answer is found in the clue itself: The phrase “don’t hew ash trees” holds sexy meaning for older Pomonans (3, 4) = The Wash (don’t hew ash trees).
5. Homophones – The answer sounds like another word or phrase, indicated by words like ‘heard’ or ‘vocal’: I’ve heard that you can take various pathways and nab award winning student (6, 7) = Rhodes Scholar (roads collar).
6. Deletions, additions, replacements – Word changed by altering letters: Our neighbor takes a deep hole and adds almost nothing. (6) = Pitzer (pit + zer(o)).
7. Letters indicated – Answer is spelled out in the clue: Some types of people die (4) = stop. (Some Types Of People)
Of course there’s no way to include all the rules. Part of the fun is being devilish and obtuse and combining types of clues in clever ways. Click here for the answers.

Clues
Across:
1. Inherently equip stern one who says witty things. (8)
6. Nude Ida shuffled alone. (7)
8. Any mutinous marine officer initially provides bullets. (4)
9. Briefly: lose pest and find cheese. (4)
11. Counts without a verbal pause and deadens the senses. (5)
12. Upon reflection is rat involved with your feet? (5)
14. Wired: subversion is extended. (5)
16. Elevated bewitched siren. (5)
18. Ingests food. (4)
19. Combine a little over half of groomer. (4)
20. To work a foot lever put confused lad in tree. (7)
21. Close proximity ensnares haphazardly. (8)

Down:
1. Split four ways: two pints and a slaughtered deer. (9)
2. I am bland—lacking property (a metrical foot). (4)
3. Subatomic particles originally propelled into orbit near Saturn. (5)
4. So-called better medicine taken internally. (6)
5. Deviant bed lies: easy to swallow. (7)
7. Narrates reports. (9)
10. Radical tea raid: send out in waves. (7)
13. Platforms for public debate, cavorting, or arts. (6)
15. Sin can’t encompass a Peruvian. (5)
17. Primarily ciphers offer definitive evidence for a cryptic message. (4)

We welcome puzzle submissions of all types and on all topics. If you’d like to submit a math, logic or word puzzle for the Alumni Puzzler, please send your query or submission to: Mark Wood, Pomona College Magazine, 550 North College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711 (mwood@pomona.edu). Selections will be made on the basis of quality and originality.