Sum of their parts – Grid 4

For Women’s Day 2024, 1ACross is happy to present “Sum of their parts”, a special series of puzzles put together by several talented cruciverbalists from across the globe.

This is the fourth in the series of Mini grids to be published each day at 11:00AM IST (8:30AM Bahrain), culminating on 8th March. Two lights from each of the first four grids when combined form a clue phrase with eight words. The solution to the clue put together from these is in Grid 5 and has to be identified by the solver.

All those who wish to participate must submit each of the 5 Mini grids as well as the bonus form accompanying the last grid, on or before EOD 15th Mar. 2024. All those who submit entries have a chance to enter our new leader board for 2024. Annotations for the puzzle will be posted in the blog on Saturday, Mar. 16th, 2024.

The title of this special series is also symbolic of the synergetic impact of each woman on her family – As you solve the grid, please take the opportunity to appreciate the women in your family and the countless things they do for you.

The Team (Grid 4)

Debasmita: I teach Economics at a university in Odisha. In my spare time I solve cryptic crosswords. Occasionally I set grids under the pseudonym of Metacryptix in a couple of blogs.

Gayathri: Gayathri is a homemaker from Bahrain. Reading, writing, KDramas and cricket take most of her free time. Though a not-so-newbie to crosswords she is trying to find her way around one clue at a time

Rhiannon: Rhiannon lives in Canberra, Australia. She enjoys word games, cryptic crossword clues, music (singing, playing brass and some other wind instruments), and works as a programmer.

Santha: I have been an addict of crosswords since my college days. There are many in the family and we vie with each other in solving. Compulsive solver; must do one at least a day. Like variety and try different setters/ publications. Not a grid setter though I try to set clues at times.

Stella: One of the fastest solvers of American-style crosswords, Stella Zawistowski is a self-proclaimed “cryptic evangelist” doing her best to popularize cryptic crosswords in the United States. On Twitter, she can be found posting a #crypticclueaday and running a popular weekly #crypticcluecontest using the handle @stellaphone.

Qrypt On Y X: (Co-ordinated with the setters and helped to edit the clues): Woman on Wonderlust

Sowmya: (Founder of 1Across.org. Conceptualized / created this puzzle series). Sowmya is the puzzle editor at Amuselabs, compiler Hypatia for “The Hindu” and has independently published Cryptic Crossroads 1, 2 and 3. She has compiled more than 1,200 crossword puzzles published over the last 10 years.  She is also the recipient of two Guinness Awards for Crochet.