In a genuine puzzle environment, of course, you also have the crossing letters, which hugely alleviate your solving load. We’ve looked at clues where the setter wants you to remove the first letter from some word to make another, and the last letter. (4)So this time we take a word for “OK” (AGREED) and remove its heart to find a word for “old”. Finally for now, the “remove the central letter” device can of course be combined with others within the same clue. More guidanceCryptic devices: hidden answers; double definitions; cryptic definitions; soundalikes; initial letters; spoonerisms; containers; reversals; alternate letters; cycling; stammering; taking most of a word; naked words; first and last letters; middle letters; defining by example.
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