                       CWC103:  Final results

All the clues have been received and judged.  The winning clues were:

Topless attendant caught giving head in the morning causes a predicament (8)

(at the risk of introducing risque clues to such an august competition),
by Pete Mitchell, and 

Clergyman caught up in wrong is no moralizer (9)

by Ed Coulson.

Pete Mitchell will be moderating CWC104.

Judging was based mostly on clever cryptic construction and superior
surface meaning; a crafty definition didn't hurt.  So the clues were 
subject to my preferences in that regard.  My apologies if your 
preferences differed.  Of particular note are a number of clues for 
word #1 which made reference to an abbreviation that I'm not familiar 
with.  To be honest, I have trouble giving top marks to a clue that 
I (and I stress, *I*) would never have solved, and would never have 
understood without the explanation.  I would expect no different 
treatment from a non-American moderator presented with a clue which 
relied on, for example, some sort of arcane baseball knowledge.

All the clues (and only the clues) for word #1:

Bunch of papers describing a $1000 million morass (8)
"Slough off squire's peripheral holding yearly," constituents vote (8)
Sudden grit creates a predicament (8)
A swamp is water without current and dirty grime (8)
Heads back, eyes right, if marshy ground ahead, unexpected quenching! (8)
Entangle a double dozen doubled over a weight.
Predicament of roofless local dignitary hosting shareholders' meeting (8)
An executive is stuck in paper swamp (8)
Hot water bog-gle? (5)
Topless attendant caught giving head in the morning causes a predicament (8)
Twenty-four pages about AGM. Reveal a sticky situation (8)
Old singers hold their yearly gathering in Betjeman's least favourite town (8)
Chewed gum -- Iraq leads East in producing slimy, quivering mass (8)
Marshland hornet's nest (8)
Awkward situation develops when yearly conference appears in paper (8) 
Swamp shareholders' gathering in paper (8)
Distribute 24 sheets of papers around the annual general meeting - it's a
   mucky situation (8)
Swamp is mostly water and foul grime (8)
Squire loses head about annual general meeting creating a sticky situation (8)
Company report gets into papers - an embarrassing situation (8)
Silver frost melted, putting quest's leaders before a precarious position (8)
Squire doffed his helmet and corralled silver mare into a corner (8)
A car company buried in papers -- that's a sticky wicket!
Doubleheaders of quoits against midshipmen remarkably becomes a predicament.
Queen catches a mug I tossed about from an inextricable position (8)
Morass as yearly meeting is littered with sheets of paper (8)

Bonus clues:

Anger follows, as automobile company becomes mucked-up place (8)
Quail germ mutates with loss of initial libido in swamp  (8)
Playing role of unstable grime (8)
Silver maggot's head wrapped in bunch of paper makes for treacherous footing (8)

All the clues (and only the clues) for word #2:

His sermons ignored content.  
Berber has beheaded naval officer and prelate (9)
Announce Calypso gent before older French nobleman  (9)
So ... morning sickness doesn't afflict this primate? (9)
He is known from a sermon, sign or blessing! (9)  
Four heads more ordinarily not seen, endlessly pay no attention to
   Italian gentleman (9)
Prelate primps lesser lay.
Scottish man joins Italian man, an RC dignitary (9)
Clergyman caught up in wrong is no moralizer (9)
Demon's ignorance saves Prelate (9)
Demons ignore shrouded holy man (9)
Morning so becomes a cleric (9)
Modus operandi and directions of which he will endlessly take no notice,
   before and after (9)
Prelate held back by throng is no martyr (9)
Boggy land swallows up lightheaded naval officer, Roman cleric (9)
Prelate is composed as short naval officer enters room backwards (9)
Dignitary from mixed region near Belgian city (9)
No advertisement in the back room for a church dignitary (9)
Officer was beheaded and buried by North African clergyman (9)
Priest held up by throng is no missionary (9)
After the battle, almost ignore the priest (9)
Cardinal read from psalm on sign orthography (9)
Cook -- "Grim?"  "No, son" -- prelate (9)
Secret demon sign ordains cardinal.
Cleric orchestrates minor song.
No indication given to tie up father (9)
Churchman developed minor song (9)

Bonus clues:

French title translated as "MOON RINGS"     (9)
Cardinal sin -- going astray with heartless goon in back room (9)
Resetting song with minor church official (9)
My French-Italian male priest (9)
"Go sin, Norm!" ordered the prelate (9)

***

ObGrumble:
How come my CWC102 predecessor gets away with a mere 24 clues to 
judge, while I'm burdened with 53?! :-)  [Heuristics of the previous
six CWC contests' numbers of clues to judge (bonus clues excluded):
42, 26, 28, 35, 44, 24]



The complete in the order that I received them, with my comments 
(prefixed with a ">") for CWC103.  Bonus clues for each word follow 
each word's set of "official" clues, with attribution of their authors 
and without any commentary from me (you can make up your own mind).  
Winners designated with ++, runners-up with +; honorable mentions
(several per clue) with *:
^L

The clues for the word QUAGMIRE:

====================================================================
*  Bunch of papers describing a $1000 million morass (8)

      morass = QUAGMIRE

      Bunch of papers = QUIRE
      $1000 = G
      million = M
      QUIRE "describing" A+G+M = QU(AGM)IRE
	("describe" in the sense of "to describe a circle")

> Another -gate scandal in the offing, perhaps?  Good clue, except
> the "$1000 million" sounds less than natural to my perhaps
> overly-American ears, which would have expected a "billion".
> "Morass" in a figurative sense --- as is used in the surface ---
> is a more recent development than "quagmire", but if it's good
> enough for Webster's Ninth, who am I to question?  Honorable
> mention for Kevin Wald.
====================================================================
"Slough off squire's peripheral holding yearly," constituents vote (8)

	Slough = definition
	off = removal indicator
	squire's = fodder
	peripheral = outer (letters) = removal fodder
	holding = container indicator
	yearly constituents' vote = AGM (Annual General Meeting)
	[S] QU(AGM)IRE [S]

	SURFACE: A newspaper headline. Perhaps a referendum was held
	regarding an intestate landholder.

> Good utilization of some non-obvious definitions of "slough".
> The AGM abbreviation is beyond my ken, although its use in this 
> contest isn't unique.  I understand the "off ... peripheral"
> indicator, but it seems awkwardly worded to me (as a cryptic
> direction, that is).
====================================================================
Sudden grit creates a predicament (8)

Exp: Charade
Sudden = QUICK
grit = SAND
predicament = definition of QUAGMIRE

> All very interesting, but it seems to me that your charade has
> clued "quicksand", not "quagmire", no?
====================================================================
A swamp is water without current and dirty grime (8)

Explanation:

a swamp                 = defn.
Water                   = aqua
without                 = deletion indicator
current                 = A (amp)
water without a current = (A)QUA 
and                     = connection indicator
dirty                   = anagram indicator
grime                   = anagram fodder
dirty grime             = GMIRE


= QUA + GMIRE

> A respectable surface, though I'll contend that most swamps I've
> encountered involve some grime (or should there have been a comma
> after "current"?).  Nice use of "current" in different senses 
> cryptically and thematically.  Personally, I think you passed up
> an &lit opportunity here.
====================================================================
Heads back, eyes right, if marshy ground ahead, unexpected quenching!
(8)

Heads back - reverse acrostic
the rest - fodder
marshy ground - def.

Surface note: They make you march like this in the army sometimes, to
make it harder to clean your boots.

> Interesting surface and cryptic technique, but the definition is
> buried amongst the cryptic without being an &lit (or, if it is
> one, defines something more like "MIL-1-234-5:  Conducting Military
> in a Quagmire" than what I was looking for).  It might have been
> better to lengthen the clue somewhat by prepending something like
> "For a swamp:". 
====================================================================
Entangle a double dozen doubled over a weight.

Explanation:  Quagmire (verb) = entangle. (bit of misdirection here :-))
                     a double dozen doubled over = a quire (24 sheets of
paper folded over)
                     a weight = a gm (gramme)
                     doubled over has a second function indicating that AGM
is incorporated into QUIRE

A bit tortuous I know, and I don't think I could solve it myself but they're
some pretty warped minds out there who seem to able to solve anything.

> Torturous, indeed, though alliterative.  From what I've gleaned 
> about quires, they're either *four* doubled over, or *twenty-four* 
> "undoubled", and this cryptic piece would have improved with some 
> sort of "paper" reference.  And nowhere in my experience --- nor 
> that of the editors of several dictionaries --- does "quagmire" 
> qualify as a verb; you'd have been better off with just "tangle".  
> Finally, a science teacher long ago convinced me that a gram is a 
> unit of *mass*, not *weight*. :-)
====================================================================
Predicament of roofless local dignitary hosting shareholders' meeting (8)

Predicament = definition
of = extraneous word, but essential connector
local dignitary = SQUIRE
roofless l.d.= QUIRE
hosting = container indicator
shareholders' meeting = annual general meeting = AGM
Thus (S)QU-AGM-IRE

> Here's that AGM again; good cryptic, surface, and definition.
> As far as I'm concerned, "of" may be interpreted as "from" and
> thus isn't particularly extraneous.
====================================================================
* An executive is stuck in paper swamp (8)

An=A
executive= GM (common abbreviation for General Manager)
is stuck in= container indicator
paper = QUIRE
swamp = straight definition of QU(AGM)IRE

> The surface reading is a bit *too* figurative:  "swamp", as a 
> *noun*, doesn't have the figurative connotation that "quagmire" 
> (or, as several other clues used, "morass") does, at least 
> according to the several dictionaries I consulted.  GM is an 
> abbreviation that I have at least occasionally encoutered.  "Paper"
> without the element of quantity barely squeaks by as a synonym
> for "quire"; Ed Coulson collects an honorable mention for this.
====================================================================
  Hot water bog-gle? (5)

Explanation:
  Double definition.
   "In hot water" means "in a quagmire."
   A "bog" is a quagmire.
   To boggle someone is to quagmire them (Okay, this is a bit of a stretch,
     but the pun was worth it).  

Comments:
  Nasty word to clue.  No decent anagrams ("I'm qua Reg"?), no hidden words,
  no charades without resorting to indirect anagrams, etc.  Ugh.

> Like I'm going to apologize from a tough word?  Hah!  :-)
> Ignoring the incorrect enumeration, the first definition is 
> passable, the second *very* questionable; I don't really understand 
> the surface.
====================================================================
++ Topless attendant caught giving head in the morning causes a predicament (8)

   Nested container:      QU(A(G)M)IRE
   Topless attendant    = QUIRE (SQUIRE - S)
   caught               = container indicator
   giving head          = G
   in                   = container indicator
   the morning          = AM
   causes               = connector
   a predicament        = definition

> Yow!  Obviously not a clue for a "family" competition.  But I never
> made such a restriction.  It is cryptically solid; it's definition
> valid.  And it certainly meets my criterion of "vivid imagery" in
> the surface!  Pete Mitchell garners the top --- or should that be
> topless? --- honors for this great, if bawdy, clue. 
====================================================================
Twenty-four pages about AGM. Reveal a sticky situation (8)

24 pages = Quire
about AGM = Qu(AGM)ire
Sticky situation = def.

> AGM, in its abbreviated form, means even less to me than when it's
> spelled out; thus, I like it even less.  Otherwise an okay clue, 
> although I'd like it better if the mid-clue period weren't there.
====================================================================
Old singers hold their yearly gathering in Betjeman's least favourite
town  (8)

Old singers = QUIRE (old spelling of choir)
hold = container indicator
yearly gathering = AGM
Betjeman's least favourite town = def of quagmire as slough (Come
friendly bombs and fall on Slough.   First line of the poem Slough by
John Betjeman)

> From a first-time participant; I'll pull my punches.  The biggest
> problem is that you've defined "slough" directly, not "quagmire".
> Secondly, provincial Yank that I am, I only pay attention to
> pre-20th century English poetry, so your allusion was lost on me
> (I didn't even know who Betjeman *was*, much less any of his work;
> you lost in the gamble that I knew what you were talking about).
> Here's AGM again --- perhaps I just lead too sheltered a life.
> On the positive side, the use of an even more obscure definition
> of "quire" than the paper-oriented one was a nice touch, and the
> surface is pleasant enough.
====================================================================
* Chewed gum -- Iraq leads East in producing slimy, quivering mass (8)

CHEWED = anagram indicator
GUM IRAQ = anagram material
LEADS = is followed by
EAST = E
IN PRODUCING = link
SLIMY, QUIVERING MASS = definition

> Basically a good clue, yet I have a few qualms:  gum doesn't 
> strike me as particularly quivering; nor, for that matter, does a 
> quagmire (both strike me as substances which leave a dent when
> poked at, rather than jiggling back and forth); something like 
> "malleable", perhaps, might have better suited both the surface 
> and definition.  The "in producing" is slightly awkward as a link 
> (the "in"'s extraneous); "in production of" might have been better.   
> Honorable mention to this clue from Cassandra.
====================================================================
+ Marshland hornet's nest (8)
	Marshland - definition of QUAGMIRE
	hornet's nest - definition of QUAGMIRE

> A pleasant and efficient double definition.  The "sticky 
> situation" definition of quagmire is just a figurative 
> extension of its original meaning, of course, but I think it is
> a sufficiently *different* meaning; the use of "hornet's nest" 
> literally in the surface and figuratively in the definition 
> keeps this clue interesting.  The runner-up, from Gail Koontz.
====================================================================
Awkward situation develops when yearly conference appears in paper (8) 

QU[AGM]IRE

Awkward situation => QUAGMIRE [OED definition]
yearly conference => AGM [Annual General Meeting]
paper => QUIRE [a quantity of paper]

> Good definition and surface.  Here's that increasingly-frequent
> AGM again (hey, just because it's in the FAQ doesn't mean *I* have
> to like it!).  As noted in the explanation, a quire is a *quantity* 
> of paper, rather than paper itself; although, in favor of its use, 
> it would appear to be a measurement of paper and nothing else.
====================================================================
Swamp shareholders' gathering in paper (8)

Swamp = definition (also container indicator?)
shareholders' gathering = AGM (annual general meeting)
in = container indicator
paper = QUIRE

> The AGM makes yet another appearance in the media!  Not much
> to say about this clue that I haven't already stated elsewhere,
> other than "swamp shareholders" makes for a curious-sounding
> phrase; "swamp" could be considered part of the container
> indicator, but, really, "in" is sufficient.
====================================================================
Distribute 24 sheets of papers around the annual general meeting - it's a
mucky situation (8)

24 sheets of paper = QUIRE
annual general meeting = AGM
distribute ... around = containment indicator
QU + AGM + IRE = QUAGMIRE
straight clue = it's a mucky situation = QUAGMIRE

> The increasingly popular AGM; no doubt the "quire" reference with 
> the greatest fidelity to its definition, at the cost, perhaps, of
> making the clue a bit on the long side.  The parts on either side 
> of the hyphen don't seem well-enough tied to each other; it's 
> too obvious that one's the cryptic, and the other's the straight 
> part.
====================================================================
* Swamp is mostly water and foul grime (8)

swamp = defin.
is mostly water = (a)QUA [most of "aqua"]
and foul = anagram indicator
grime = anagram fodder

> A clue constructed similarly to an earlier clue, and
> perhaps even better, although I have a few qualms about
> using "is mostly" as "most of"; another candidate for
> the "why not an &lit?" club.  Worth an honorable mention for
> Bill Shatzer.
====================================================================
    Squire loses head about annual general meeting creating a sticky 
        situation (8)

    Squire loses head = QUIRE
    annual general meeting = AGM
    about => QU(AGM)IRE
    a sticky situation = definition

AGM is a standard abbreviation in Australia (where I'm from), and 
I assume it is in the US and UK as well. I only mention it because I can't
recall anyone saying "AGM" while I've been here in the US.

> Well, I've been here in the US for a very long time (like, my whole
> life), and I've never heard of either the term in either its long
> form or its abbreviation.  Under the circumstances, I don't regard 
> AGM as an invalid construction, but as far as *my* preferences go,
> I can't bring myself to like it.  The clue itself is long but 
> otherwise okay.
====================================================================
     Company report gets into papers - an embarrassing situation (8)

       AGM (Annual General Meeting) <contained>
       QUIRE - collection of paper  <container>
       Defn - [Collins] - "An awkward or embarrassing situation"

> Great surface; use of "papers" for "quire" was okay; good 
> definition.  This time, I like AGM even less (than usual!),
> as I'd think the company report was something that *resulted*
> from the AGM rather than it *be* the AGM.
====================================================================
Silver frost melted, putting quest's leaders before a precarious
position (8)

Silver: AG
frost:  RIME
frost melted: MIRE
quest's leaders: QU

A partial, indirect anagram. How many rules did THIS one break?

> Just one in my book (I don't have a problem with partial anagrams;
> just indirect ones --- and the "rime" part seems particularly 
> indirect).  Trying desperately to disregard such reckless 
> disregard of the "law" :-), the clue's not bad, although "before"
> sounds a *little* odd in the surface reading ("in" would have
> sounded more natural, but obviously is unsuitable for the cryptic).
====================================================================
Squire doffed his helmet and corralled silver mare into a corner (8)

	Squire doffed his helmet --> QUIRE
	and corralled            --> container indicator
	silver mare              --> AG + M
	corner                   --> defn. (as in "difficult situation")

> Very nice surface and reasonable definition; clever cryptic 
> elements ("helmet"; "corralled") tied well with the surface
> theme.  The "mare" = "m" is a FAQ-endorsed substitution, but it
> strikes me as something of an arbitrary abbreviation.
====================================================================
A car company buried in papers -- that's a sticky wicket!

        A                      = A
        car company            = GM  (aka General Motors)
        buried in              = placement indicator ("in the middle of")
        papers                 = QUIRE
                                 -------
                                 QU(AGM)IRE
        that's a sticky wicket = defn.

        Surface: perhaps the car company was served a lot of legal
          papers.  That would be bad news.  

> Presumably "buried" in the surface is figurative, although it's
> an interesting image to picture it literally.  This clue's okay
> in all its aspects, although the hyphens accentuate the break
> between wordplay and definition.
====================================================================
Doubleheaders of quoits against midshipmen remarkably becomes a predicament.

Doubleheaders of (First two letters of) QUoits AGainst MIdshipmen
REmarkably becomes a predicament (straight definition).

> Imaginative indicator (even if I don't *entirely* approve of it)
> tied thematically with the surface, which, given the cryptic 
> form, is remarkably smooth --- even as "predicament" just doesn't
> seem like quite the right word for what might appear to have been
> a bar brawl.  *Ahem*:  it's traditional to append the letter count
> parenthetically to the clue.
====================================================================
* Queen catches a mug I tossed about from an inextricable position (8)

 "Queen" = Q
 "a mug I" = anagram fodder
 "tossed" = anagram indicator; "AMUGI" anagrammed to UAGMI
 "about" = RE;  Q+UAGMI+RE = QUAGMIRE
 "from" = equivalence filler
 "an inextricable position" = definition of QUAGMIRE
 Surface comment: ER _does_ like her tea!

> Very nice clue; cryptically pretty solid, decent surface.
> Quibbles:  in the surface, "tossed about" sounds a little
> awkward, and I haven't quite figured out whether it's the Queen
> or the mug-tosser who's inextricably positioned; "catches"  more
> naturally indicates containment than adjoinment, but I'll buy it.
> It's worth mentioning, honorably, this clue from John Hakemian.
====================================================================
Morass as yearly meeting is littered with sheets of paper (8)

Morass           - definition
as               - link word
yearly meeting   - AGM (Annual General Meeting - a standard expression
                 here for the yearly meeting of a business or organisation
                 where the board or council reports back to share-holders
                 or members)
sheets of paper  - QUIRE
is littered with - container indicater AGM is surrounded by QUIRE
                 - QU(AGM)IRE

> Once more unto the AGM!  The container indicator is a hard call:  
> I'm more inclined to think it indicates that "quire" should be 
> inside "agm".  Good definition; very nice surface.
====================================================================


BONUS CLUES for the word QUAGMIRE

From: Kevin Wald 

   Anger follows, as automobile company becomes mucked-up place (8)

      mucked-up place = QUAGMIRE

      Anger = IRE
      as = QUA
      automobile company = GM
      IRE follows QUA+GM = QUAGMIRE

From: Paula Tanous

Quail germ mutates with loss of initial libido in swamp  (8)

Exp: ANAGRAM/EXCLUSION
quail germ = anagram fodder
mutates = anagram indicator
loss of initial libido = "remove the "L"
Swamp = definition

From: Cassandra

Playing role of unstable grime (8)

PLAYING ROLE OF = def. QUA
UNSTABLE = anagram indicator
GRIME = anagram material
&lit (well, sort of)

Silver maggot's head wrapped in bunch of paper makes for treacherous footing (8)
SILVER = Ag
MAGGOT'S HEAD = M
WRAPPED IN = word-within-word indicator
BUNCH OF PAPER = quire
MAKES FOR =  link
TREACHEROUS FOOTING = definition


====================================================================
====================================================================
The clues for the word MONSIGNOR:

====================================================================
His sermons ignored content.  

   (Container, &lit)

> Not too bad a clue, but little things trip it up a bit:  "his"
> is extraneous to the cryptic; *technically, a sermon, not itself
> being a rational being, can't *ignore* ("lacked content", yes;
> "ignored", no).  I think a better approach along these lines might 
> have been the sentence fragment "His sermons' ignorant content".  
> And, hey, let's not forget that enumeration!
====================================================================
*  Berber has beheaded naval officer and prelate (9)

      prelate = MONSIGNOR

      Berber = MOOR
      naval officer = ENSIGN
      "beheaded" ENSIGN = NSIGN
      MOOR "has" NSIGN = MO(NSIGN)OR

> I suspect that "Berber=Moor" is a close enough equation (although,
> strictly speaking, Moors are a people of Berber and Arab 
> heritage).   Good cryptic and surface; definition adequate (a
> prelate isn't *necessarily* a "monsignor", but it'll do).  Kevin
> Wald earns an honorable mention for this clue.
====================================================================
Announce Calypso gent before older French nobleman  (9)

Exp: HOMOPHONE/CHARADE
Announce = homophone indicator
Calyso gent = "MON"
before = position indicator
older = SENIOR
French nobleman = definition

> To parallel the "French" nationality, "Jamaican" may have 
> been a better choice than the musical "Calypso".  As for 
> the definition:  this clue treads dangerous (if not forbidden)
> ground, as the English dictionaries defined "monsignor" as a 
> churchman; the "French noble" definition tends to apply to a
> word with a different spelling ("monseigneur") and pronunciation
> ("moan" rather than "mon").  Surface is good, though.
====================================================================
* So ... morning sickness doesn't afflict this primate? (9)

	So morning = anagram fodder
	sickness = anagram indicator
	doesn't afflict this (superfluous - but necessary for effect)
	primate = definition

	SURFACE: There may be a female Monsignor(ita?) sometime, but at
	this juncture one with morning sickness is unlikely.
		EXPLANATION: With three superfluous words in this riddle-
	style clue, maybe I'll call it an &litter. :@}

> I was much more inclined to interpret the surface "primate" as
> "member of an order of mammals" --- envisioning an orangutan 
> having a problem-free pregnancy, earning extra credit for the 
> contrasting uses of "primate" in surface and definition (and, as
> moderator, I'm free to discard the clue author's explanation,
> aren't I?).  As for "doesn't afflict": "affects" would, while 
> reversing the surface sense, be much less superfluous.  As a 
> definition, "primate", as with other clues' "prelate", captures 
> the religious sense of the word adequately.  Murray Smith's worth
> mentioning honorably as the author of this clue.
====================================================================
He is known from a sermon, sign or blessing! (9)  

Explanation:

He is known from  = hidden word indicator  
serMON, SIGN OR = fodder 

Whole clue is definition.

> Pretty good definition.  I'm not all that impressed with
> the hidden word indicator, though.
====================================================================
Four heads more ordinarily not seen, endlessly pay no attention to
Italian gentleman (9)

Four heads - acrostic, M-O-N-S
endlessly pay no attention to - IGNOR(e)
Italian gentleman - def

Surface note: OK, punish me!

> Consider yourself punished, you surface sadist.  Also, as with the
> "French" reference made by another clue, the "Italian" definition
> is a little shaky:  an Italian/English dictionary I looked at
> defined only "monsignore" (note the spelling), and used the 
> "church" definition.
====================================================================
Prelate primps lesser lay.

Explanation:  Prelate = Monsignor
                     primps = titivates (anagram indicator)
                     lesser = minor
                     lay = song
                     minor song (anagram) = Monsignor
I know you don't think much of indirect anagrams, but personally, I enjoy
them. My favourite crossword, The Wee Stinker, uses them all the time, and I
think that as long as the clue is kept fairly succinct and not allowed to
become too long and rambling, then they have a certain beauty.  The clue
could always be changed to "Prelate mangles minor song", but I think you'll
agree that lesser lay is so much more poetic.  (Of course, I could be biased!
 ;-) )

> Don't say you weren't warned!  I don't like indirect anagrams because,
> as a rule, the solver has no idea where to start (and the one in this
> clue is made even harder by having the same number of letters in both
> the direct and indirect anagram fodder!) --- there must be any number
> of nine-letter phrases which "lesser lay" could correspond to, and
> requiring the solver to think of them all *and* permute their letters
> into something that matches the definition is, IMHO, too difficult.
> Well, to each their own, I guess.  You're right about the "poetry" 
> of the clue; its alliteration is attractive, and the use of "lay" 
> in the surface is clever.
====================================================================
Scottish man joins Italian man, an RC dignitary (9)

Scottish man = MON
joins = connecting indicator
Italian man = SIGNOR
an RC dignitary = definition

A simple charade clue from a simple man.

> Decent enough surface and definition (although why use the RC
> abbreviation, at the risk of befuddling the solver?); however, 
> you run afoul by using "signor" in the cryptic, which is at the
> etymological root of the word being clued.
====================================================================
++ Clergyman caught up in wrong is no moralizer (9)
                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
backwards hidden word. 

> Excellent clue (assuming a "down" clue), although I daresay that
> a goodly number of men of the cloth continue to moralize even 
> after being caught up in wrong!  Ed Coulson captures the winner's
> prize with this clue.
====================================================================
* Demon's ignorance saves Prelate (9)

Explanation:
  Hidden word.
   "deMON'S IGNORance"
   saves = indicator
   prelate = monsignor

Comments:
  The surface actually makes even more sense if you were reading X-Men comic
  books last year, but I think it's reasonable enough.  I'm not sure about
  whether the capitalization of "prelate" is worthwhile.

> Quite nice hidden-word clue, even if I'm not a X-Men fan (for which
> I tried mentally to lower-case the "Prelate"); good surface. 
> Wei-Hwa Huang earns an honorable mention for this clue.
====================================================================
* Demons ignore shrouded holy man (9)

   Demons ignore   = hidden word fodder
   shrouded        = hidden word indicator
   holy man        = definition

> A couple of participants apparently reading from the same hymn
> book here (and this is the order in which they were receieved!);
> I like this one rather better: surface and definition just as 
> good; indicator superior (in that it's used as an adjective in
> the surface, while it's a verb in the cryptic).  Pete Mitchell's
> clue is an honorable mention.
====================================================================
Morning so becomes a cleric (9)

Morning so = anag
becomes = indicator
a cleric = def

> Basically a nice clue, although in the announcement's "moderator's
> prejudices" section, I specifically indicated my lack of enthusiasm
> for anagram indicators of this sort --- it "becomes" the word 
> only after the not-explicitly-mentioned rearrangement of letters.
====================================================================
Modus operandi and directions of which he will endlessly take no notice,
before and after (9)

Modus operandi = MO
directions = NS
endlessly = indicator to remove end of word
take no notice = IGNOR(e)
before and after = pre+late = def of monsignor

> Our first-time contestant again.  This time there is no definition
> at all; rather, there are two sets of wordplay, the second of which
> defines only a synonym of the target word rather than the word 
> itself.  The surface reading is a little vague to me.  The "of
> which he will" is pure, useless filler.
====================================================================
* Prelate held back by throng is no martyr (9)

PRELATE = definition
HELD... BY = container indicator
BACK = reversed letters indicator
THRONG IS NO MARTYR contains answer in reverse

> Good hidden word clue; sensible surface.  Worth an honorable 
> mention to its author, Cassandra.
====================================================================
Boggy land swallows up lightheaded naval officer, Roman cleric (9)
	boggy land - MOOR
	swallows up - container indicator
	lightheaded naval officer - ENSIGN minus E > NSIGN
		so:  MO-NSIGN-OR
	Roman cleric - definition of MONSIGNOR

> Good surface and definition.  I don't really like "lightheaded"
> as the first-letter removal indicator.
====================================================================
+ Prelate is composed as short naval officer enters room backwards (9)

MO[NSIGN]OR

Prelate => MONSIGNOR [OED definition]
short naval officer => [E]NSIGN
room backwards => MOOR

> Good clue in all aspects.  I was particularly impressed by the
> "is composed as" used doubly as a definition/cryptic link and
> as a thematically consistent part of the surface (once I assured
> myself that the link was legitimately coupled with "enters" 
> instead of, say, "entering").  David Hamer is the runner-up with
> this clue.
====================================================================
Dignitary from mixed region near Belgian city (9)

Dignitary = definition
mixed = anag indicator
region = IGNOR(E)
near = position indicator
Belgian city = MONS

I know, I can't get rid of the E.

> ... and thus you've clued monsignore, which is not what was
> asked for.  Bad news.  I'm not entirely sure what to make of
> "mixed region" in the surface; I suppose it could be of
> mixed ethnicity, mixed agricultural/industrial economy, or
> any number of things.
====================================================================
* No advertisement in the back room for a church dignitary (9)

No = N
advertisement = SIGN
in = containment indicator
back = reversal indicator
MO + N + SIGN + OR = MONSIGNOR
straight clue = church dignitary = MONSIGNOR

> Good, solid clue, all-around.  It doesn't surprise me that
> there aren't *any* advertisements in the back room, much
> less one for a church dignitary (how often do they advertise,
> anyway?).  Honorable mention to Paul Weiss for this clue.
====================================================================
* Officer was beheaded and buried by North African clergyman (9)

officer was beheaded = (e)NSIGN 
and buried by = containment indicator
North African = Moor
clergyman = defin.

MO+NSIGN+OR 

Ah, well, the best I can do, in any case.  :-)

> A respectable showing, certainly:  quite solid cryptic 
> construction, as far as I'm concerned; acceptable definition;
> vivid surface of a priest gone bad.  Bill Shatzer earns an
> honorable mention for it.
====================================================================
    Priest held up by throng is no missionary (9)

    Priest = defn
    held up by = reverse inclusion indicator
    thRONG IS NO Missionary = fodder

> Assuming it's a down clue, of course, it's cryptically sound.
> I rather preferred the "no martyr" clue, surface-wise.  The use
> of "priest" as the definition is rather weak, as a run-of-the-mill
> priest is rarely if ever accorded the "monsignor" title.
====================================================================
     After the battle, almost ignore the priest (9)

       Battle of MONS (major WWI battle)
       IGNOR [E]
       THE PRIEST - defn

> Perhaps Mons is a household synonym in the UK, but it doesn't
> have the same familiarity for me as does, say, "Waterloo", 
> "Trafalgar", or (sticking to the war at hand), "Marne".  Again,
> "priest" isn't the best definition for "monsignor".  Surface-wise,
> okay, although logic might dictate that the priest would be a
> prominent figure in any but the most casualty-free battle.
====================================================================
Cardinal read from psalm on sign orthography (9)

Cardinal: pseudo-definition
read from: hidden in
psalM ON SIGN ORthography

I thought Cardinal was a good definition until I looked it up, but
I think RC Prelate sounds TOO much like a def.

> Well, the definition passes muster, as does the cryptic.  But
> the surface's "sign orthography", while being technically okay
> and logical, just doesn't read naturally for me --- I think it
> would have been better to "go adverb" with "sign, ordinarily"
> or some such.
====================================================================
Cook -- "Grim?"  "No, son" -- prelate (9)

	Pathetically easy anagram clue

> Cryptically and definitionally (?) sound; the surface seems rather
> awkward because of the asymmetry of the quote attributions (one
> before, one after).
====================================================================
* Secret demon sign ordains cardinal.

        Secret               = hidden indicator
        deMON SIGN ORdains   = hiding place
        cardinal             = defn.
        
        Surface: maybe he is one of those "evil cardinals".

> I should think so.  Solid cryptic and definition; surface-wise,
> okay.  I think I'd have preferred it if there was a stronger
> implication of a sentient being doing the ordaining (i.e. 
> "With secret demon sign, ordain cardinal").  Still, the clue 
> rates as an honorable mention from Karen Lingel.
====================================================================
* Cleric orchestrates minor song.

Cleric (straight definition) orchestrates (anagram signal) minor song
(anagram of monsignor).

> Anagram indicator doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, although
> one must buy into a rather slangy interpretation to work as an
> indicator (which I, for one, do).  Hey!  Where's that enumeration?
> Definition perhaps should hint at a cleric of high rank.  Good 
> clue, overall; an honorable mention for Jim Springer.
====================================================================
* No indication given to tie up father (9)

 "No" = N
 "indication" = SIGN
 "given to" = container indicator
 "tie up" = MOOR;  MO[N+SIGN]OR = MONSIGNOR
 "father" = definition of MONSIGNOR
 Surface comment: Testimony from the brother Menendez trial...

> Very good surface (even without the explanation), nice 
> cryptic ("given to" seems a legal indicator to me; the use
> of the rather nautical sense of "moor" is good, although
> unsurprising, given the author :-).  As with "priest",
> "father" doesn't quite connote the higher ecclesiastical
> level that it should (as a definition), but extra points awarded 
> to the duality of use in surface and definition; John Hakemian
> gets an honorable mention for this clue.
====================================================================
Churchman developed minor song (9)

Anagram - MINOR SONG => MONSIGNOR
churchman - definition.

> Very similar an entry two clues back, with a very similar opinion
> on my part.  Comparatively, I preferred "orchestrates" in the 
> surface and as an indicator in the previous clue.
====================================================================



BONUS CLUES for the word MONSIGNOR

From: Paula Tanous

  French title translated as "MOON RINGS"     (9)

Exp: Anagram
French title = def
translated = anagram indicator
MOON RINGS = anagram fodder

From: Cassandra

Cardinal sin -- going astray with heartless goon in back room (9)
CARDINAL = definition
SIN = anagram material
GOING ASTRAY = anagramindicator
WITH = beside
HEARTLESS GOON = GN
IN = word-within-word indicator
BACK ROOM = MOOR

From: Cassandra

Resetting song with minor church official (9)

RESETTING = anagram indicator
SONG, MINOR = anagram material
WITH = combine words
CHURCH OFFICIAL = definition

From: David Bullock 

The clue I would like to have submitted is

My French-Italian male priest (9)

but you would tell me that is the derivation of the word.

From: Phil Rose

"Go sin, Norm!" ordered the prelate (9)

Another anagram, which tickled me even though it is extremely obvious!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian C. Spollen                          | Internet:bcs@harriseda.com
Harris Electronic Design Automation, Inc. | I express my opinions, not Harris's
Fishers, New York 14453                   | "Taste makes Waist"