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.

Background

Cryptic crosswords were first developed in the United Kingdom. Puzzles initially had a mix of cryptic clues and clues that only had definitions as seen in earlier crosswords, but Edward Powys Mathers (Torquemada) was the first to publish a crossword that entirely uses cryptic clues. Cryptic crosswords gradually became more popular in British newspapers, and Stephen Sondheim helped introduce the clue style to American audiences in the New York magazine.

Later cryptic crosswords start to have a more standardized best uses to make the solving experience more fair. Derrick Somerset Macnutt (Ximenes) and Jonathan Crowther (Azed) provided guidelines on what makes cryptic clues fair, like having the definition part be precise.

Puzzle Application

In contrast to many crossword clues that only use definitions, cryptic crossword clues have two parts, with optionally a word or phrase that bridges, or "glues" the two.

• a definition part — a direct definition of the answer to the clue
• a wordplay part — instructions on how to interact with the words not used in the definition to provide the solution

The definition part is always at the start or end, but the clue doesn’t tell where one part ends and the other begins! However, the fact that a cryptic clue contains both a definition and a wordplay portion makes these clues self-checking, so solvers can know they solved correctly without any crossing letters. As such, cryptic crosswords do not need to have every cell double-checked and tend to use barred grids.

Types of Cryptic Clues

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Example Cryptic

Across 1. Flowers that ascended south 6. Simplicity surrounding real wipe out 7. A mode of transport finally gone wrong 8. Princess daughter returned for money 9. A sty messy with his last remains

Down 1. Delivers through regular freehand use 2. Revolution for Bitcoin, in part 3. Odd statue near steam bath 4. South American announces class assignment 5. Prophets are timeless guides

The solution is -

Across 1. Flowers = ROSES (def.); that (glue); ascended = ROSE + south = S 6. Simplicity = EASE, surrounding real = R; wipe out = ERASE (def.) 7. A (lit.) + mode of transport = BUS + finally gone = E (last letter of gone); wrong = ABUSE (def.) 8. Princess = RANI + daughter = D; returned (written backwards); for (glue); money = DINAR (def.) 9. A sty (lit.) messy (rearrange A STY, giving STAY) + with his last = S (last letter of his); remains = STAYS (def.)

Down 1. Delivers = READS (def.); through (glue); regular freehand use (take every other letter) 2. Revolution = ORBIT (def.); for Bitcoin, in part (containment) 3. Odd statue near (take odd-positioned letters); steam bath = SAUNA (def.) 4. South American = SA (abbrev.); announces (homophone of “SA”); class assignment = ESSAY (def.) 5. Prophets = SEERS (def.); are (glue); timeless (remove letter T from) guides = STEERS

Strategy

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Notable Examples

Played Straight

• Haloanaka (Labor Day Extravaganza) (web) - The instructions describe this puzzle as a cryptic crossword with two types of modifications done to clues.
• Pimple Popping (The 2023 DUAL Puzzle Hunt) (web) - The instructions describe this puzzle as a cryptic crossword with some clue answers getting modified.

Notable Twists

• Hall of Mystery (MITMH 2020) (web) - Click to revealSome cryptic clues have two solutions.

See Also

• List of Cryptic Crosswords
• List of non-crossword puzzles that utilize Cryptic Clues