Cryptic Crossword

Cryptic Crosswords are a type of Crossword puzzle in which, rather than clues giving definitions to their respective entries, they provide both wordplay and a definition cluing the same thing, mashed into one otherwise nonsensical phrase. Popular in the UK, these puzzles were invented in the 1920s but took until the 1960s to arrive in the US.

Puzzle Application
Cryptic crosswords differ from normal crosswords by way of their clue structure. Traditional crossword clues may use definitions or a bit of wordplay to clue a particular entry. Cryptic clues always use both, with every clue being split into a 'definition' half, which can be read as normal and directly clues the answer, and a 'wordplay' half, which needs to be interpreted step-by-step to form the final answer. Sometimes, these parts can be connected by a joining word like 'is', 'for', or 'to'. These halves are usually chosen so that, when combined, they form something that parses as a sentence or clue, but doesn't make any sense as a regular definition. Example: Cryptic crosswords tend to use barred grids.

Notable Examples

 * Hall of Mystery (MITMH 2020)