Acrostic indicator
to start with
“to start with” is an acrostic indicator in cryptic crosswords.
Also called letter-selection: you read the initial or final letters of consecutive words to spell part of the answer. Indicators point to beginnings, ends, or leaders.
- Clue types
- Acrostic
- Subtlety
- moderate
- Part of speech
- phrase
“To start with, peel and roast tasty yams for the celebration (5)”
Answer: PARTY
Definition: "celebration" — a party, a festive gathering.\n"To start with" signals an acrostic — take the first letters of the words that follow.\n"peel and roast tasty yams" → P, A, R, T, Y.\nReading those initial letters in order spells the answer.\nP-A-R-T-Y gives PARTY.
Related indicators
- at first
- at last
- at the end
- at the end of
- at the outset
- at the start of
- backs of
- begin
- beginnings of
- borders of
- bottom of
- bottoms of
- capitals
- characters
- conclude
- conclusions of
Explore indicator types
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