For Beginners

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Explanation only + Answers + Grid entries
Solution grid
The finished diagram contains NO VICES. Accordingly, SLOTH, LUST, GLUTTONY, COVETOUSNESS, PRIDE, ENVY, and ANGER are banished.

Across

  • 1.
    YEAGER: Y-E-AGER → enter as EAGER
  • 5.
    TARPAULIN: TAR(PAULI)N → enter as ARPAULIN
  • 11.
    TRENT: T(R)ENT → enter as RENT
  • 12.
    SAILBOAT: S(AIL-BOA)T → enter as AILBOAT
  • 13.
    VICARIOUSLY: V(IC)ARIOUSLY → enter as ICARIOUSLY
  • 14.
    PROVISOS: PRO(VI)-SOS → enter as ROVISOS
  • 15.
    ROWAN: ROW-AN → enter as OWAN
  • 18.
    ENDOWING: END-OWING → enter as NDOWING
  • 19.
    SHIVERED: S-HIVE-RED → enter as HIVERED
  • 20.
    NATAL: NATAL (double def.) → enter as ATAL
  • 24.
    OBESE: OBESE (hidden) → enter as BESE
  • 26.
    LEAFIEST: LEAFIEST (anag.) → enter as EAFIEST
  • 29.
    LEATHERS: LEA(THE)R'S → enter as EATHERS
  • 31.
    GLOAT: G(L-O)AT → enter as LOAT
  • 33.
    SELFSAME: SE(L-F)SAME → enter as ELFSAME
  • 35.
    NORTHEASTER: NORTHE-ASTER (hornet anag.) → enter as ORTHEASTER
  • 36.
    UNBELIEF: UN(BELIE)F (fun anag.) → enter as NBELIEF
  • 37.
    TREEN: TREEN (anag.) → enter as REEN
  • 38.
    OTOSCOPES: O-TOS(COP)ES → enter as TOSCOPES
  • 39.
    NINETY: N(I-NET)Y → enter as INETY

Down

  • 1.
    REBIRTH: R(EBIRT)H (rev.) → enter as EBIRTH
  • 2.
    NARCOTIC: N(ARC)O-TIC (car anag.) → enter as ARCOTIC
  • 3.
    HENRI: HENRI (anag.) → enter as ENRI
  • 4.
    ARTIST: ARTIST (hidden) → enter as RTIST
  • 5.
    VAMOOSE: V-A-MOOSE → enter as AMOOSE
  • 6.
    EPISODIC: EP(I-SOD)IC → enter as PISODIC
  • 7.
    GALLEON: GA(L)LE-ON → enter as ALLEON
  • 8.
    SLOW-WITTED: SLO(WWI)TTED → enter as LOWWITTED
  • 9.
    TIARA: T(I)ARA → enter as IARA
  • 10.
    ENTANGLE: ENT-ANGLE (ten anag.) → enter as NTANGLE
  • 16.
    DEVASTATES: DEVA-STATES → enter as EVASTATES
  • 17.
    IRENE: I-RENE → enter as RENE
  • 18.
    UNDIES: UNDIES (pun) → enter as NDIES
  • 20.
    OASIS: O-AS-IS → enter as ASIS
  • 21.
    LIBELANT: LIBELANT (anag.) → enter as IBELANT
  • 22.
    OVERSTEP: O(VERST)-EP → enter as VERSTEP
  • 23.
    EASEMENT: EASEMENT (tease men with t shifted) → enter as ASEMENT
  • 25.
    CHEERIO: CHE(E)RIO (anag. + e) → enter as HEERIO
  • 27.
    TABLETS: TAB-LETS → enter as ABLETS
  • 28.
    UTTERLY: UTTERL-Y (anag. + y) → enter as TTERLY
  • 30.
    SAFARI: S(A-FAR)I → enter as AFARI
  • 32.
    YOBBO: YO-BB-O → enter as OBBO
  • 34.
    ESSEN: ESSE-N → enter as SSEN