Sir, – Tony Corcoran (Letters, February 4th) bemoans the use of the term “otiose” as a solution in the Simplex Crossword. If he was a Simplex veteran, he might remember its previous use ... some time in the early to mid 1980s.
Myself and my friends were similarly stumped but as it was our last clue I suggested that we could complete the clue with some “plausible” letters and bask in our collective cleverness. My more purist friend objected strongly and as we argued at length a third friend thumbed a dictionary eventually finding the solution. Thus, I have never forgotten the meaning of the word. Perhaps Mr Corcoran will have a similarly clear recall of its meaning some time in the mid 2060s. – Yours, etc.
Mick Young,
Dublin 20.
RM Block
Sir, – I agree wholeheartedly with your reader’s letter Not So Simplex.
While I also enjoy the challenge of the Simplex crossword, I have found it increasingly cryptic recently and sometimes featuring very lengthy questions more akin to the Crosaire. I live in hope for a return to Oh So Simplex. – Yours, etc,
Elizabeth Barry,
Raheen,
Limerick.
