Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle
The clue "Brilliant spies flounder after ill-treatment" has the answer "SPLENDIFEROUS."
This clue utilizes wordplay and a bit of misdirection to lead us to the answer. Let's break down the clue and analyze how it relates to the answer:
- Brilliant: The word "brilliant" suggests that we're looking for a synonym or word that means "excellent" or "extraordinary."
- Spies: This word indicates that the answer might involve the name or concept of secret agents.
- Flounder: In this context, "flounder" doesn't refer to the fish but rather means to struggle or stumble.
- After ill-treatment: This phrase implies that something negative or harmful has happened.
By analyzing the clue, we can deduce that the answer should be a word or phrase that combines the ideas of excellence, spies, struggle, and ill-treatment. And the answer that fits all these criteria is "SPLENDIFEROUS."
"Splendiferous" is an uncommon word that means "wonderful," "magnificent," or "extraordinarily impressive." It reflects the brilliance and excellence referred to in the clue. The word "spy" is hidden within "splendiferous," suggesting the presence of secret agents. Additionally, the word "flounder" implies a struggle, which can be seen in the complexity of the word itself. Finally, the mention of ill-treatment in the clue might be a clever way to mislead solvers, as "splendiferous" sounds similar to "splintered" or "imperiled," which might fit within the idea of ill-treatment.
In conclusion, the clue "Brilliant spies flounder after ill-treatment" leads us to the answer "SPLENDIFEROUS" through a combination of wordplay, misdirection, and fitting the various elements of the clue. This demonstrates the creative and intricate nature of crossword puzzles, challenging solvers to think outside the box and consider multiple interpretations.
Definition of "SPLENDIFEROUS"
splendid
Example :The Crossword clue "Brilliant spies flounder after ill-treatment" published 1 time/s & has 1 answer/s.
Crossword | Date | Answer |
The Guardian Cryptic | 21 November 2018 | SPLENDIFEROUS |