Deletion indicator
short
“short” is a deletion indicator in cryptic crosswords.
You remove part of a word — its head, tail, heart, or ends — before using what remains. Deletions use the imagery of loss, cutting, or being incomplete.
- Clue types
- Deletion
- Subtlety
- subtle
- Part of speech
- adjective
“Benevolence short of resolve, yet sound (4)”
Answer: GOOD
Definition: "sound" — meaning reliable or in good condition. "Benevolence" gives GOODWILL (kindly favour). "resolve" gives WILL (firm determination). "short of" signals dropping that piece from the end. GOODWILL short of WILL leaves GOOD.
Related indicators
- abbreviate
- abridge
- after the first
- almost
- bare
- behead
- borderless
- boundless
- brief
- briefly
- centreless
- clip
- clipped at both ends
- core
- coreless
- crop
Explore indicator types
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