+ Fill the blank: Goal ___ Code. View in your browser Saturday January 26 2019 Thankfully, the Puzzles section is one part of the paper that remains Brexit-free. This week, however, a crossword maestro dipped his toe into the debate. Richard Browne, a former editor of the Times Crossword, contacted the Letters desk with an email that was typically full of wit and wordplay. Anyone who enjoys tackling the O Tempora! (Latin) Crossword and is of a robust disposition may enjoy the following ... The letter, which was printed on January 23 in Letters to the Editor, was in reply to this missive from Mary Bienfait of St Albans: Sir, As an extracurricular Latin teacher I am often required to think creatively to keep my pupils on their toes. Recently, the misinterpretation of the verb rexit as “brexit” caused mirth in my class, and consequently a new Latin verb, brego bregere brexi, (“to leave the EU”), was born. When a pupil endearingly asked whether the Romans would indeed have used it in all its forms, it was agreed breget is plausible, bregit is possible, however brexit is entirely hypothetical. Richard's rather colourful response was: Sir, Your Latin teacher (letter, Jan 22) did not explain all the principal parts of her new verb brego, bregere. After the past tense brexit (he or she left the European Union) there inevitably follows the supine brectum (we’re all buggered). Worthy of a Times Crossword clue itself. David Parfitt Puzzles Editor puzzles@thetimes.co.uk Clues of the week The Times crossword editor, Richard Rogan, selects his five favourite clues from the past week's Times Crossword puzzles. (Solutions and explanations below) 1 Partners demanding movie (7) No 27253, Monday, January 21 2 Vulgar type, instant trouble (5,5) No 27254, Tuesday, January 22 3 Bark associated with golden retriever? (4) No 27255, Wednesday, January 23 4 Dates for the pious in no way movable feasts! (4-4) No 27256, Thursday, January 24 5 As rubbish remains, attempt to collect it (6) No 27257, Friday, January 25 Enhance your crossword solving by visiting our Crossword Club. It's free to digital subscribers, and offers thousands of Times and Sunday Times crosswords, live leaderboards, solving forums and more. Questions of the week Our pick of the past week's questions from Olav Bjortomt's fiendish Daily Quiz. (Answers below) 1 Which walking, talking scarecrow featured in the first storybook published by Puffin Books, in 1941? 2 The haykal (five-pointed star) is a sacred symbol of which religion? 3 The Davie-Brown Index (DBI) quantifies consumer perceptions of which people? 4 Which establishments were called the “seats of English liberty” by the 18th-century French author Abbé Prévost? 5 Named after a French governor of Saint-Domingue, what is the genus of the pictured flower? Crossword Clue Writing Contest The latest from the Sunday Times Crossword Clue Writing Contest, this week judged by David Parfitt, the Puzzles Editor for The Times & The Sunday Times. The winner of £20 for Clue Writing Contest No 1742: SINKHOLE Jeff Robinson, Surrey Clue: Broken leg mostly OK with shin getting surface fracture [definition = surface fracture; wordplay = anagram of LE (most of LEG), OK and SHIN] For a full report on the above contest, visit: sundaytimes.co.uk/cluewriting Sunday Times Clue Writing Contest No 1745: TERRACOTTA Readers are invited to compose their own clues for the answer above. Clues must be original and cryptic, of a standard similar to those in the Sunday Times Crossword. Email your entry to puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk. The contest closes on Monday, February 4, and the best entry wins £20. Mark My Words Mark My Words is our regular caption competition in The Sunday Times. This week, readers are invited to guess what was said when people in the Cambridgeshire town of Whittlesey took part in the annual Straw Bear festival. Send your entries to: puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk by no later than Tuesday. Entries should include a postal address, and ‘Mark My Words 144’ in the subject line of the email. The best entry as judged by The Sunday Times will win The Chambers Dictionary of Great Quotations (full terms and conditions below).   Last week’s winning entry, for this photo of cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Matt Hancock, was: “To be honest, I’d say there’s only that much chance of you becoming leader.” It came from Martin Price of Maidenhead, Berkshire.   Where Was I? Every week in the Travel section of The Sunday Times, the indefatigable Chris Fautley asks "Where was I?" If you can pinpoint Chris's location and answer another question thereon, you'll be in with a chance of winning a fabulous holiday. The winner of tomorrow's prize and a guest will stay for three nights, B&B, at the five-star Regent Porto Montenegro hotel, in Boka Bay, Montenegro. Part of the Porto Montenegro marina (portomontenegro.com), it overlooks the waterfront with its chic motor launches, and has views of distant mountains. Facilities include the state-of-the-art Regent Spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and several restaurants and lounges. One dinner for two at Murano (excluding drinks) is included in the prize, as is one spa treatment each for the winner and guest. To take part, and for full terms and conditions, visit thesundaytimes.co.uk/wherewasi from Sunday, January 26 to Wednesday, January 29. Last week's Abu Dhabi contest is now closed. The winner was Lesley Findlay-Bill of Lincolnshire. Head Scratcher Can you find a single answer that can follow the first word and precede the second word in each of the below pairs? 1 Black ___ Research 2 Lead ___ Hot 3 Goal ___ Code 4 Roman ___ Stick 5 Tennis ___ Grease Solutions Clues of the week 1 Partners demanding movie (7) WESTERN [definition = movie; wordplay = W, E (partners, ie West and East in bridge) + STERN (demanding)] 2 Vulgar type, instant trouble (5,5) FLASH HARRY [definition = Vulgar type; wordplay = FLASH (instant) + HARRY (trouble)] 3 Bark associated with golden retriever? (4) ARGO [deceptive definition (bark = an alternative spelling of "barque"; golden retriever = reference to the mythical hero Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece] 4 Dates for the pious in no way movable feasts! (4-4) FAST DAYS [deceptive definition (fast = immovable, as in "stuck fast"] 5 As rubbish remains, attempt to collect it (6) TRASHY [definition = As rubbish; wordplay = ASH (remains) surrounded by TRY (attempt)] Questions of the week 1 Worzel Gummidge — as in Worzel Gummidge, or The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook by Barbara Euphan Todd 2 Baha’i faith 3 Celebrities 4 Coffeehouses 5 Begonia — after Michel Bégon Head Scratcher 1 Market 2 Piping 3 Post 4 Candle 5 Elbow Mark My Words terms and conditions Competition closes at midnight on Tuesday. Over 18, residents of the UK and ROI only. One entry per person. The winner will be the best entry as judged by The Sunday Times. No cash alternative to prize in whole or in part. Prize is non-transferable. Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition. Promoter is Times Newspapers Ltd. Not open to staff of the Promoter and promotional partner or their families. 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