stgk

[sincnoel]

10a ... powerlessness. 5-2

[JoolsTwo]

Downa Do

[sincnoel]

JJ, I can find NOTHING on the net to back this. Where did youget it from?

[tyrepill]

It is in Chambers Dictionary

[sincnoel]

great. so we are all supposd to use bloody chambers? isn't is about time answerbank (and the crossword compilers) settled on ONE dictionary for all clues? preferably the shorter oxford, which is, after all, the fountainhead for the language we use. personally, i am fed up with all these weird terms that come from different dictionaries. this has to stop;.

[sincnoel]

oh ... and thank you, JJ and tyrepill!

[Lie-in King]

I also used Chambers, but a quick Google has just given -

http://www.infoplease.com/t/lit/robert-burns/2 2/4.html

(Which is a start...)

The reason the compilers like Chambers is precisely because it gives such a rich vein of rare & unusual words for them to form clues around.

I'm unable to comment on the content of the Shorter Oxford, as I don'[t have it...

[sincnoel]

and can i also point out that bloody chambers, which seems a law unto itself, has a definition for "breeding ground" that no other dictionary has got? (i have 17). who are these people?

[sincnoel]

yes, LiK ... words that no-one ever has heard of and never will again. i don't speak scottish dialect. why shd chambers expec t us to know the finer points of that? the arrogance of those who run chambers is breathtaking .

[shaneystar2]

Not really ....it's up to you what dictionaries you own :)
If you are a fan of cryptic crosswords then imho Chambers is a real necessity as is Bradfords .Horses for courses .

[Catron]

You have 17 dictionaries but do not have Chambers? LOL.

[sincnoel]

one final thing. it is high time compilers told us which dictionary/encyclopedia they are using. this shd be mandatory. perhaps the AB editor could take this up and pursaue it.

[Catron]

Why would he want to do that? It has nothing to do with him. I suggest you write to the Telegraph.

[sincnoel]

i will. and all the others. we're being shafted.

[JoolsTwo]

Sorry sincnoel I had to do something away from the computer. I got the answer from the same source and Lie-in-king although I also use Chambers. I think most of the compilers use many sources for puzzles, although the Telegraph crosswords do tend to use Chambers a lot. But most things can be found on google anyway.

[shaneystar2]

It has nothing to do with the "arrogance " of the people who publish Chambers or the publishers of any other work of reference .It's up to the compiler of the crossword which dictionary and source of reference they use .
If they all used Janet and John books they would hardly be stretching our brains would they ? And there would be no variety if they all used the same sources to compile from .
You are being petty .

[sincnoel]

i'll bet there are a lot out there who agree with me

[Prudentia]

just put it in and post it off we all need an early night