Occasionally I like to see what AI can make of cryptic clues, and I like this attempt.
AI Overview (from Firefox)
The answer to the crossword clue "Free trade, third reduced by 90 per cent (4)" is likely
DART, which uses a cryptic clue involving "trade" (DART/DARTING), removing the "T" (a third of 'trade') to get "DAR", then reducing that by 90% (symbol for 90% is % or a Roman numeral like XC, but here "reduced by 90%" implies removing most of it, leaving only the 'D' for 'DART' - or maybe 'D' is 90% of 'DAR'). A more direct interpretation is DEAL, a synonym for trade, then taking the D, A, L (third letter L removed by 90% leaves DA), adding the Roman numeral for 90 (XC) to make DART.
Here's the breakdown:
1. Trade (synonym): DEAL
2. Third letter removed: DEAL -> DEA (removing L)
3. Reduced by 90%: This is tricky, but often in cryptic clues, "90%" points to the Roman numeral XC (90) or a percentage sign, or it's a playful way to suggest removing most letters. In this specific clue's context (from Big Dave's Crossword Blog): "A four-letter synonym of trade, that has a Roman numeral in the third position, swaps that letter for the Roman numeral 90% smaller, to give a synonym of free".
4. Let's use the blog's logic:
o Trade synonym: DART (as in, darting in/out of trade)
o Third letter: T
o Roman numeral for 90: XC
o 90% smaller than 'T' is essentially nothing, so you're left with 'D', 'A', and 'R'. This doesn't work for DART.
Let's try the other way:
1. Trade synonym: DART
2. Third letter (T) is replaced by something 90% smaller (maybe just the letter 'D' from 'Dart' itself if thinking of it as a shape? No).
3. The blog suggests a "four-letter synonym of trade, that has a Roman numeral in the third position, swaps that letter for the Roman numeral 90% smaller, to give a synonym of free."
4. Try DART as the final answer (synonym for free/quick).
5. Work backwards: DART. Remove the 'T' (third letter). Leaves DAR. A Roman numeral (C=100, X=10, V=5, I=1). 90% smaller than 'T'?
The most likely interpretation for the answer is DART, where "trade" could be a less direct synonym (like a quick move in trading), and the letters/symbols work out cryptically. The clue is very specific and likely relies on a known setter's style (Zandio).
The actual answer, of course, is SAVE: SALE with L (50) reduced to V (5).
It’s fun to see AI threshing around, actually latching on to the Roman numeral element and where it occurs, but failing to exploit it.
Long live human setters and solvers!