Triple Definition Clues

 
The more the ways to reach the solution, the easier the clue - or is it?

Not exactly. Compare a cryptic clue with a straight one. A straight clue has only one path to the solution. The answer may not be precisely arrived at without crossings [Animal (3) = DOG? RAT? PIG?] but at least we know the path is the right one.

A cryptic clue offers more than one path to the solution. There is slim chance of error if our solution satisfies all paths [Animal in laboratory (3) = RAT [T], DOG and PIG ruled out], the challenge lies is in finding which are the correct paths.

Most cryptic clues have two ways to reach the solution – (i) the definition (ii) the wordplay or a second definition in case of double-definition clues. [An exception is the cryptic definition clue, which gives a single devious way.]

What happens when the number of paths to the solution is more than two?

It catches us off-guard. We aren't conditioned to recognize it, so accustomed are we to two-segment clues. We miss seeing the beauty of the clue in entirety.

At least, that's what happened  when I came across this clue in FT 13095 (Viking):

Pick holes in weak summary (3, 4)

I got the answer RUN DOWN fairly early but missed spotting that it was a triple definition, with a different length divisions for each definition:

pick holes (3,4) = RUN DOWN
weak (3-4) = RUN-DOWN
summary (7) = RUNDOWN

I realised this only when Viking, the composer of the puzzle, pointed it out on the blog.

More Triple Definition Clues

A few triple definition clues published in the recent past – solve and savour.

Times 24244: Best or worst party (6)
NIE (24-Mar-09): Light nonsense is still produced (9)
Guardian 24655 (Araucaria): Trim and plain, like "ox" (4)

Related Posts:

• Double Definitions
• Cryptic Definitions 
• Cryptic Double-Definitions

If you wish to keep track of further articles on Crossword Unclued, you can subscribe to it in a reader via RSS Feed. You can also subscribe by email and have articles delivered to your inbox, or follow me on twitter to get notified of new links.