05.18.14 — Language Play — the Acrostic

Sunday, May 18, 2014

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from Language Play by David Crystal.

The text approaches the subject of how everyone plays with language in an informed but light-hearted way.  Beginning by showing how we all use the “hidic” (playful) function of language, the author then investigates why we do and where the impulse to break the rules of language comes from. — Book Description, Amazon.com 

The quotation:  [N]OTHING… CAN LIVEN UP A LECTURE ON ENCYCLOPEDIA CONSTRUCTION MORE THAN TYPOS… . …[T]HE WORLD WAS NEARLY INFORMED ABOUT THE “INDEX OF PROHIBITED BOOS”… AND THE NEW OLFACTORY MEANS OF LINKING BRITAIN AND FRANCE, THE “CHANEL TUNNEL.”

The author’s name and the title of the work:  DAVID CRYSTAL, LANGUAGE PLAY

The defined words:

A. Figure out, as a secret message, DECRYPT
B. “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” author (2 wds.), ANNE BRONTE
C. Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, for one, VOLCANO
D. Accessory for a scrivener, INKHORN
E. Current in a thunderstorm, DOWNDRAFT
F. Wordsworth’s favorite flower, CELANDINE
G. Photoshop, clean up, add a little color to, RETOUCH
H. Like the Arabic spoken in Sana, YEMENI
I. Arrowroot or tapioca, basically, STARCH
J. Wee bit, tiny taste, smidgen, THIMBLEFUL
K. Gaston’s partner n early comics, ALPHONSE
L. Chest of drawers on short legs; flatbed trailer, LOWBOY
M. Piece of propaganda, perhaps, LEAFLET
N. Harvestman, scorpion or mite, ARACHNID
O. Player of Marie Antoinette in 1952’s “Scaramouch” (2 wds.), NINA FOCH
P. Fezzik in “The Princess Bridge,” for example, GIANT
Q. Exceptional, not customary, UNWONTED
R. Things Northrop Grumman manufactures, AIRCRAFT
S. Amaretto-and-vodka cocktail, GODMOTHER
T. Symbol of power?, EXPONENT
U. Constellation where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator, PISCES
V. Eavesdrop (2 wds.), LISTEN IN
W. Shakespeare’s Venetian merchant, ANTONIO
X. Google acquisition of 2006, YOUTUBE

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.