Group Therapy answer to naomi24

[chakka35]

The "The" in the question is essential because it also forms the first word of the answer. If I gave you the (poor!)clue "And above a Wiltshire town" you would recognise that the answer was of the form

And+a word meaning 'above' = And+over = Andover

Similarly this is of the form

The+a 3-letter word meaning a group of horses
=The+*** = a definition of 'entire number'.

No, I haven't got around to sending mine in yet.

[naomi24]

Mmm. Still got my doubts, but thanks for taking the time.

[chakka35]

Can't help any more, I'm afraid. I'm quite happy about it. Funnily enough, the "The" I'm doubtful about (though I'm sure it's what they want) is the first word of the solution to 56. It seems unnnecessary. But it may be that they want to refer to that particular *****, rather than any other, and that's what it was called. (I'm sure you know that the word did not come from those initials; acronyms were unknown until the early 20th century. It comes from the Fr. "cabale" and the Latin "cabbala". The book POSH by Michael Quinion is marvellous for debunking all these false etymologies, including "posh".)

[naomi24]

No, I'm sure you're right - I can't come up with anything else either - but it's one of those answers that continues to niggle. Some answers have a tendancy to do that, don't they. Well, we'll soon see.

56. Yes, I did know the word didn't come from those initials - handy nevertheless. I do believe they are referring to that particular one which was known as "The", so I'm happy with the answer.

Will we see each other on the one hundred percenters list? Who knows? See you back at R&S no doubt.

[chakka35]

Hope to see you in the 100s, but we'll never know who we respectively are. I expect that clever people like us will work it out. Looking forward.