Crossword Companion

The Wordsworth Crossword Companion incorporates many special features: Clear guidance on how to recognize and work out anagrams and how to decipher cryptic clues. Thousands of synonym entries arranged in order of the number of letters in every word, e.g. fault n (3) bug; (4) flaw, lack, spot; (5) blame, error, taint, (6) defect; (7) absence, blemish, failing, frailty, mistake; (8) weakness; (10) deficiency, inadequacy; (11) shortcoming; (14) responsibility; over 30,000 synonyms.

The Complete Crossword Companion continues to be an essential A--Z aid for lovers of puzzles and crosswords.

This is an alphabetical listing of hundreds of solutions to common crossword and word game conundrums. Which words indicate an anagram in a cryptic clue? When should a backword be searched for? What do crossword compilers use to hint at a trick answer? The entries in this guide help the user find solutions to such problems quickly in order to prevent the agonies of crossword frustration.

“This cultural and personal history of crosswords and their fans, written by an aficionado, is diverting, informative, and discursive.” —The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice A delightful, erudite, and immersive exploration of the crossword puzzle and its fascinating history Almost as soon as it appeared, the crossword puzzle became indispensable to our lives. Invented practically by accident in 1913, when a newspaper editor at the New York World was casting around for something to fill empty column space, it became a roaring commercial success almost overnight. Ever since then, the humble puzzle has been an essential ingredient of any newspaper worth its salt. But why, exactly, are the crossword’s satisfactions so sweet? Blending first-person reporting from the world of crosswords with a delightful telling of its rich literary history, Adrienne Raphel dives into the secrets of this classic pastime. Thinking Inside the Box is an ingenious love letter not just to the abiding power of the crossword but to the infinite joys and playful possibilities of language itself.