Iq 1822

[hankir]

IQ is getting tougher each week.

No answer lengths are given. Two clues:

- Colouring having no good point  

- Flimsy material recalled Webster’s approach to travelling?

 

Thanks.

 

[Keepatit]

I think TIN(G)E and LENO (one L in US word travelling). This is a very tough puzzle, and I'm not certain of the exact endgame yet, even though I know the theme. The preamble is poorly written, imho

[ProfessorMaisie]

Yes, they're both right.

The tricky thing is how to place them in the grid (they're both split entries.

I struggled getting the initial grid-fill... and struggled some more getting the final grid!

[Keepatit]

Professor, I think the middle thematic block is straightforward enough, but without word lengths the others are tricky. Especially as I don't understand the third paragraph. Where is your abbreviation in the final grid?

[ProfessorMaisie]

VA is the abbreviation, keepatit - but it isn't in the final grid because it's the answer to a clue (and there are no clues to final entries). It stands for Vicar Apostolic ('Papal appointment in Virginia').

[ProfessorMaisie]

The 3rd paragraph explains why some clues are to be entered starting with an empty cell (PEPE becomes a longer answer later on, but its space within the grid starts inside one of the initially empty blocks - so it's a 5 letter space for a 4 letter word to begin with - in this way it retains symmetry).

[Keepatit]

Thanks, I had that, but assumed it meant the final grid contained one. In which case I'm still unsure of my upper and lower thematics. Keep scratching head ... 

[Keepatit]

But its symmetrical entry would be AMINA, which isn't in Chambers, or do I misunderstand you?

[ProfessorMaisie]

The 3 thematic blocks are very well known (and ''thematic blocks of cells'' describes them very well indeed}.

[ProfessorMaisie]

AMINA is a given name and is one of the new entries - the plural form of the penultimate across entry is a bit suspect, though.

[ProfessorMaisie]

By the way, the name is in Chambers (fem of 'Amin').

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM and Keepatit.

I may not keep at it given the complexity.

I thought both clues had 8 letter answers. No wonder I was way off.

[ProfessorMaisie]

The lack of answer lengths is very unhelpful, hankir - and they are mostly short answers (just 2 letters for two of them!). It's an unnecessary handicap, if you ask me - and it isn't the first time we've had this from Phi (makes it much easier for him, of course}.

Still, it's a clever construction and worth the effort, I think (happy to help if you keep at it}.