Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Well done Bharat. I think the clue is slightly wrong. The usual nominative form is “sedes vacans”, meaning empty seat. Sedes is the singular and plural form. The phrase “sede vacante” is a construction called an “ablative absolute”, setting the circumstance for the clause, meaning “while the see is vacant”.

So “sede” is the ablative declension of “sedes”, and should correctly be followed by “vacante”, the ablative present participle of vacate, the verb for to be empty.

So the clue is technically incorrect, as it’s a hybrid of a nominative and an ablative form. It should either be “sedes vacans” or “sede vacante”.

But the wordplay clearly points to cave reversed in sedans, so I think you have to put “sede vacans” as the answer, even though I would mark it as wrong in Latin!

Thanks Quisling for the confirmation. I could get educated in Latin also from you. A very good form with a lot of intellectuals like you. Thanks.

Please help me in parsing / solving this cryptic clue -
"Spooner's cut part of speech in ground (5,4)"

It's difficult to just give a hint for this one. I think it's Spooner saying DOCK NOUN, which is meant to be
KNOCK DOWN, ground.

Thanks mattrom for the help.

Please help me in parsing / solving this cryptic clue -
" Company quietly stops manufacturing primarily eutectoid steel for optical instrument (9)"
I thought of ENDOSCOPE, but unable to parse it satisfactorily.

It can be telescope. Steel co p e

Bharat, I think your Telescope works - and I think it's a slightly shoddy, slightly clunky clue!

Thanks malone.

Please help me in parsing / solving this cryptic clue -
" Walk holding cycle with British chum in Canada (10)"