# I don't understand this crossword clue/answer! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044 "2004-11-10T17:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/21 "2004-11-10T21:29:50Z")
The nene is a goose, not a duck. And another possibility for the sacred prefix is “hiero.” twicks, puzzle editor ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/22 "2004-11-10T21:38:14Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > And a sea eagle is an _ern_ or an _erne_ (depending on whether the lexicographer needed to fit a three-letter or four-letter word in). I’ve also seen it as _tern_, but can’t remember seeing it as _terne_ anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/23 "2004-11-10T22:07:37Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > REL would be my guess. > > Others along the lines of esne and ret: > > HI Duck: Nene > Dies \_\_\_\_: Irae > Brit Gun: Sten > Copyedit: Stet And to add a couple more common crossword answers to the list: an “epee” is a fencing sword and “Esau” was Jacob’s brother. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/24 "2004-11-10T22:11:50Z")
While all these suggestions are good, I should note that puzzle writers these days (at least the really good ones) are trying to get away from the really obscure clues/words that exist only for the convenient letter formation. So YMMV when it comes to the usefulness of these. ---
**Author:** ![Roches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc8723/32.png) [@Roches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roches)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/25 "2004-11-10T22:15:31Z")
Another ‘WW2 Brit gun (4)’: Bren. Sacro- and hiero- are possible prefixes meaning ‘sacred’. There’s one more I can think of: _hagio-_, which means ‘holy’ or ‘referring to the saints’ (hagiography, Hagia Sophia). ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/26 "2004-11-10T22:28:55Z")
For those of you who are fans of the NY Times puzzle - it is now available on-line from the NY Times as a Java application. You pay about $34 a year for it. I love it. You can do the daily puzzle on-line, or print it on paper and do it in pencil. You can save a partially finished puzzle and complete it later. You can race against the clock. You can complete with others to see who finished it first. If this isn’t a great use of technology, I don’t know what is. Go [here](http://query.nytimes.com/premium/xword/puzzles.html) to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/27 "2004-11-10T22:45:48Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Actually, to **soak** flax is to _ret_. > > And a sea eagle is an _ern_ or an _erne_ (depending on whether the lexicographer needed to fit a three-letter or four-letter word in). The New York Times typically uses “directional suffix” as a clue for _ern_, or maybe I’m only seeing that as I’m a wimp who only does the puzzles early in the week… ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/28 "2004-11-11T00:42:32Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The nene is a goose, not a duck. > > And another possibility for the sacred prefix is “hiero.” > > twicks, puzzle editor It actually ended up being heiro. You’re good! Can you recommend any good sites on crossword construction? It seems like it would be really interesting. Also, please give me your home address so I can send you all my puzzles for editing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/29 "2004-11-15T01:37:51Z")
Sorry – didn’t see your post. (Should I admit I do a vanity search once a week or so?) [Here](http://www.crosswordtournament.com/links/index.htm#ref) are some links you might find helpful. I use custom-written software at work, so have no recommendations about the “OTC” programs. If you’d like to get in touch, my email address is in my profile – put “SDMB” in the message line so I don’t delete it as spam. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/30 "2004-11-15T05:51:25Z")
I haven’t written any new crossword puzzles in several years, but I used to write them regularly, and got dozens of them published. So, I can tell you first hand that most editors will immediately reject puzzles that use more than one of the cliche “crosswordese” entries people have been ridiculing here. On one hand, I applaud them for upping their standards. At the same time, I know from experience how hard it can be to avoid using those cliches! There are only so many 3 and 4 letter words that use the most common letters of the alphabet, and it’s VERY easy to get stuck in a corner where “ESNE” or "ERNE " or “UTA” (Hagen) or “STEN” or “ETE” (French summer) is the only thing you can enter to make the puzzle work. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/31 "2004-11-15T14:41:36Z")
From the Guardian newspaper crossword: **gegs** (two words; 9 + 4 letters) **dead boring** (11 letters) From me: **postman’s sack** ---
**Author:** ![FriendRob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@FriendRob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendRob)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/32 "2004-11-15T15:14:24Z")
Sorry folks, the only real crosswords puzzles are _cryptic crosswords_. Sample clue: Help mixed-up car company with calm fortitude. Answer: phlegm ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/33 "2004-11-15T15:16:49Z")
gegs (two words; 9 + 4 letters)SCRAMBLED EGGS dead boring (11 letters)NECROPHILIA postman’s sackSCROTUM ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/34 "2004-11-15T15:23:08Z")
> [@FriendRob](#): > > Sorry folks, the only real crosswords puzzles are _cryptic crosswords_. Sample clue: > > Help mixed-up car company with calm fortitude. > > Answer: phlegm Nice one! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/35 "2004-11-15T15:24:22Z")
> [@FriendRob](#): > > Sorry folks, the only real crosswords puzzles are _cryptic crosswords_. Sample clue: > > Help mixed-up car company with calm fortitude. > > Answer: phlegm I don’t get the “calm fortitude” part. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/36 "2004-11-15T15:35:01Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I don’t get the “calm fortitude” part. From [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com): phlegm ( P ) Pronunciation Key (flm) n. Thick, sticky, stringy mucus secreted by the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, as during a cold or other respiratory infection. One of the four humors of ancient and medieval physiology, thought to cause sluggishness, apathy, and evenness of temper. Sluggishness of temperament. **Calm self-possession; equanimity.** ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/37 "2004-11-15T15:36:37Z")
[Second through fourth definitions in the first entry](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=phlegm). See also ‘[Phlegmatic](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=phlegmatic).’ ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/38 "2004-11-15T15:38:50Z")
I just _knew_ when I asked there would be a :smack: - D’oh! moment at the end of it. But still I had to ask. I wasn’t thinking of phlegmatic, which I know the definition of, thank you, I was wondering how GM had “calm fortitude”. :o ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/39 "2004-11-15T15:42:35Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I don’t get the “calm fortitude” part. [Phlegm, definition 4](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=phlegm) > [@](#): > > Calm self-possession; equanimity. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044/40 "2004-11-15T17:09:06Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > gegs (two words; 9 + 4 letters)SCRAMBLED EGGS > dead boring (11 letters)NECROPHILIA > postman’s sackSCROTUM First two answers correct (well done, that man 🙂 ). Alas, the third is wrong. Would you like more information? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-this-crossword-clue-answer/274044.md?page=3)