Solution:

Other types of clues

(some rare & endangered)

Created by Linda Carson (c)2000. To go back to the puzzle, click here.

Most cryptic crossword puzzle clues are anagrams, charades, containers, double definitions or homophones. However, there are some special occasion clues and key words that may seem a little obscure. For instance, bone up on your Roman numerals ("V" for five, "L" for fifty, and so on).

I've tried to show you several different kinds of clues in this puzzle. The rationale for each of the answers is below.

Across: 5 Bop, 6 Bridged, 8 Atom, 9 Pomade, 10 Sting, 12 Level, 15 Curate, 17 Rats, 19 Assents, 20 Dew.

Down: 1 Loot, 2 Gripe, 3 Edam, 4 Needle, 7 Omen, 11 Truism, 13 Eire, 14 Berth, 16 Aces, 18 Teem.

Why, you ask, are these the answers?

Across: 5 Just the odd letters from BlOoPs = BOP, 6 abridge "aBRIDGED", 8 alternate letters from ArTfOrMs = ATOM, 9 Obscure stuff eg O is a duck in sport of cricket, 10 STINGy, 12 LEVEL is a palindrome, 15 "heart" of acCURATEly, 17 star is RATS backward, 19 move AS from end of Sent SAS to front, 20 wed is DEW backwards.

Down: 1 LOOT is "tool" upside down, 2 GRIP + Earl (every peculiar word, try its initial), 3 EDAM is "made" upside down, 4 NEEDLEss, 7 wOMEN, 11 alTRUISM, 13 every other letter of pEdIgReE, 14 BERTHa has no end, 16 spACESuit, 18 TEEM is "meet" rising.