Can you do cryptic crosswords? Beginner in need of help.

[Flamingoose]

Substances left from evaporation are absorbing uranium (7)

Last letter is E.

I sort of want it to be RESIDUE, because that's a substance left from evaporation. If we assume 'absorbing uranium' means put a U in it, then I've put a U in RESIDE - but I have no idea where the RESIDE came from, so maybe RESIDUE is wrong?

Any help?

@Georgiesgirl

😂 thank you. I try to do three a day (times x2 and guardian). Practice helps so much. If I stop for a while it's much harder.

Wow! That's impressive.

My mum has done these these everyday for year. She's in her 80s and still going strong! DH has fairly recently got going with them and they have discussions that sound just like this thread
I might start so I can join in. I've always thought I just can't do them but it's just another way of looking at things really, and I bet it's helping mum stay sharp.
Great thread!

@EarringsandLipstick

I think cryptics are good when the clues are good & the answer satisfying. Many are a bit like 'residues'. They work, but it's not quite clear why.

The Irish Times cryptic crossword was great years ago. I was never good at it but my Grandma did it every day. You really needed a classical education - lots of Latin & references to Greek myths & legends, and famous literature. It's frustrating these days, lots of the answers are 'huh? Why is that the answer?'

Ah that makes sense. Mum did do Latin and classics lessons at grammar school

The Times does a cryptic IN Latin once a week. Would be so great to be able to do that. I tried to start learning on duo lingo at the start of lockdown but didn't get very far!

I completed the Duolingo Latin course! It was fun while I was doing it but a year later I can't remember any of it.

Ha ha! How brilliant! Such an excellent thing to know and nearly as useful as being able to make sourdough bread :-)
Maybe we can team up and do the O Tempora? In yer face, Boris

Gosh! I have a Classics degree but don't really have the quirky brain for cryptic crosswords, so I doubt I would be much help to you, @Georgiesgirl. My Latin isn't tip top these days, but it's surprising how well things you learn thoroughly when you're young stay in the memory. My parents do at least one crossword every day (usually general knowledge, but they have a crack at one with some cryptic clues) and I'm sure it helps them stay sharp. My dad watches Countdown from recordings so he can whizz through the inane chat and just do the puzzles. I am in awe watching him do the maths conundrum at sight and he's 87! I would need pen and paper and several minutes, at least.

They both did French at school and have not really been to France or any other French-speaking country since, but still remember loads. Ditto German for my mum and Spanish for my dad (plus some Latin in mum's case). The old rote learning methods had some advantages.

The original question, about where the word ‘reside’ comes from, is driving me mad.

@Dearreader

The original question, about where the word ‘reside’ comes from, is driving me mad.

Right!? It's bugging me too!

@Dearreader

The original question, about where the word ‘reside’ comes from, is driving me mad.

Not convinced by my "are" -> be -> reside?

Does the reside not come in as the substances have been left so they are there to stay?

I have nothing useful to add as I'm really slow at these. But, I think the PP who suggested 'are' = reside must be right. I even just looked uo synonyms for are > stay > reside. Maybe it's just not a great clue.

Agreed

Left is a 'side' though that still leaves 're'...

Are you sure its substanceS? Is it was singular then substance could equal 're' from the Latin 'res' = 'thing'...

I miss Aurucaria, RIP, compiler beyond compare. If you love a cryptic try to find a book of his Guardian crosswords. Bliss.

I expect you all know this, but Araucaria is the botanical name for the monkey puzzle tree (a great favourite of mine), so an excellent name for a puzzle setter.

Not convinced by my "are" -> be -> reside?

I think this is the only explanation that really works.

Indeed so, Gaspode, thus was it chosen.

You can get all of the Guardian crosswords online.

www.theguardian.com/crosswords/series/cryptic

The "quiptic" ones are a bit more straightforward and a good introduction to the full on cryptic ones.

You can check if your answers are right (with the exception of the prize ones) and you can get it to fill in an answer if you are really stumped.

Used to get a free morning paper years ago. Had a crossword with both cryptic and straightforward clues. Was the only way I could do cryptic- but if I'm honest most of the time it was working out how tge questions resulted in the word!!

I do the Times Quick Cryptic most days. It's a good beginner level crossword, although I still haven't progressed to the main one.

This website times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/ explains how each clue works.

This is a good site for tips and explanations of the different devices

tp://bigdave44.com/

@Sunbird24

This was my favourite from the Times Cryptic yesterday: Where one may find hot spices - hot not cold - readily (2,1,5)

@Sunbird24, or @beccahamlet: please put me out of my misery and explain this one to me?! I can’t figure it out 😩

@NatriumChloride - you would find hot spices in a curry, but then it says hot not cold, so it becomes ‘in a hurry’, which equates to ‘readily’