HOW TO SOLVE A CROSS WORD PUZZLE

EXAMPLE

1 2 3 4 5
6
7 8 9
10 11
12 1314
15 16
17

Fig. 1

DEFINITIONS

Horizontal

1 Disparage 6 Cereal grass 7 Abbr. Vice Admiral 9 An edge-tool 10 Urge 11 Skill 12 Behold 14 Prefix: good 15 Impair 17 Agreement

Vertical

1 Evolve 2 Toward 3 A rodent 4 Near 5 A web 8 Gone by 9 A land measure 13 A male sheep 15 Indeed 16 Disordered type

There are two essential points that must be remembered by initiates into the cross word puzzlers’ fraternity. First, the numbers in the squares refer to the definitions; secondly, there should be but one letter to each white square.

Figure 1 shows a cross word puzzle challenging each and every one of us to solve it. Looking the puzzle over we find that 1 horizontal calls for a seven letter word meaning “disparage.” That is not so easy, so we leave it temporarily. We go on to the next one, which is a three letter word meaning “a cereal grass.” What else could it be but OAT? Therefore we ink in OAT in the proper squares. “Vice Admiral.” That most assuredly must be VA. We place that into position. The ninth, tenth and eleventh do not come to our minds immediately, so we pass them up. We will catch them on the cross check. Twelve is familiar, however, and with a little thought we place LO in the vacant squares. The rest do not come to us, so we leave them also, and turn to the verticals. [[11]]

1 2 3 4 5
6 OAT
7 V8 A 9
10 11
12 LO13 14
15 16
17

Fig. 2

Looking over the diagram (See Figure 2) we find that one vertical calls for a seven letter word whose third and fifth letters are V and L respectively and which is defined as “evolve.” The V and the L give us the clue. The word is DEVELOP. We place it in the diagram. Two, three and four are easy, for we have three clues to work on and we find the proper words without much difficulty. The next one is beyond us, so we go on to the one numbered 8. We find that a three letter word—starting with A—meaning “gone by,” is needed. The clues of A and O enable us to get that without much trouble, and we place AGO in the square. We pass by nine, but thirteen is easy. “A male sheep?” Why, of course, the word is RAM.

1 D 2 T3 R4 A 5
E6 OAT
7 V8 AT9
10 EG 11
12 LO13 R14
O15 A16
17 P M

Fig. 3

From now on the going is easy. We have plenty of clues to the words that we do not know. (See Figure 3.) Rechecking the horizontals, we find that we have the first, third, fourth and fifth letters of “disparage,” and with their aid we easily see that the word is DETRACT. Looking for a two letter word meaning “an edge-tool,” we soon find that there is but one word that will fit. We place AX in position. With nine vertical beginning with an A it is easy to find that ARE is the proper word. Ten horizontal [[12]]proves to be EGG and eleven becomes ART. We say to ourselves that if we could only get five vertical we would have the puzzle solved. Well, why not? Is the second letter an a, e, i, o, or u? The definition gives it as “a web.” What word will fit but TEXTURE? We place that into position. Now, we find that we have the puzzle almost completed. Fifteen horizontal needs a three letter word meaning “impair.” Its middle letter must be an A. With the A to guide us that is simple. The word is “SAP.” Fifteen and sixteen being two letter words are easily found, and we place SO and PI into position. We now find that we have the puzzle completed with one exception. Seventeen horizontal has to be found. Its first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh letters are P OMI E. A consonant is needed for the second letter, and R seems to be the most logical choice. That gives us the word, which is defined as “agreement.” (See Figure 4.)

1 DE2 T3 R4 AC5 T
E6 OATE
7 V8 AT9 AX
10 EGG11 ART
12 LO13 R14 EU
O15 SA16 PR
17 PROMISE

Fig. 4

We settle back into our chair with a sigh of content at the thought of a job well done. But that is not the finish. Rather it is but the start. Now that we have tasted the pleasures of cross word puzzling, we are loath to give our time to anything else. What other amusement offers the pleasure, instruction and satisfaction that is to be found in Cross Word Puzzles? There is but one answer to that question, and—foregoing the movies—we settle down to the elusive task of tracking words to their lairs. [[13]]

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