Wow, what a week for brilliant cryptic crossword clues! You know those moments when a clue just stops you in your tracks, makes you scratch your head, then suddenly, the light bulb flickers, and everything falls into place with a satisfying click? That’s precisely the journey I had with today’s featured cryptic
crossword clue
.
The clue in question? “Moonlight etc, so Satan rises (7)“. Just reading it, you can feel the setter’s mischievous grin. It’s a masterful blend of misdirection, clever wordplay, and that quintessential cryptic charm. Let’s break down why this particular
crossword clue
is such a gem.
My immediate thought, like many of you I’m sure, drifted towards some dark, perhaps even infernal, imagery given the mention of ‘Satan’. And ‘rises’? In the world of cryptic crosswords, ‘rises’ is a classic indicator. It often signals a reversal, meaning a word spelled backward. So, if ‘Satan rises’ suggests ‘NATAS,’ that’s a promising start. But then what? We’ve got five letters, and the answer needs to be seven. Where do the other two come from? This is where the initial puzzle of a good
crossword clue
truly begins.
Then there’s the ‘Moonlight etc’ part. Is ‘Moonlight’ part of the definition? Is it the definition itself? Or is it an example leading to the definition? The ‘etc’ is particularly intriguing. It suggests there’s more where ‘Moonlight’ came from, a pattern, a category of things. This part of the cryptic
crossword clue
immediately directs your mind to specific cultural references or genres. If you’re a fan of, say, classical music, a certain famous piece might spring to mind almost instantly with ‘Moonlight’, hinting at a broader family of terms.
This is where the magic of a well-crafted cryptic
crossword clue
truly shines. You have these seemingly disparate elements – a chilling figure, a direction, and a celestial light with an indefinite ending – and the setter challenges you to weave them into a coherent whole. The trick, as always, is to figure out how the definition and the wordplay interact. Is ‘Moonlight etc’ the definition, with ‘so Satan rises’ being the clever construction? Or vice versa? And how does the ‘so’ fit into ‘so Satan rises’? Is it part of the anagram fodder, or a linker, or even a direct part of the solution? Each element of the
crossword clue
is carefully placed, a breadcrumb leading to the ‘aha!’ moment.
What I love about this kind of
crossword clue
is how it guides you down one path (Satan! Reversal!) then subtly, almost imperceptibly, nudges you towards another layer of meaning. The key lies in understanding that ‘rises’ isn’t just about a simple reversal in isolation. It’s about combining elements from the clue in a way that truly makes sense for a seven-letter word. The ‘etc.’ becomes crucial, not just a filler, but a vital signpost. When all the pieces click, and you see how the ‘so’ combines with the reversed ‘Satan’ to form a part of the definition suggested by ‘Moonlight etc’, it’s incredibly satisfying.
It’s precisely these moments of intellectual gymnastics that make cryptic crosswords so addictive. They aren’t just about knowing words; they’re about understanding the unique language of the setter, the subtle winks and nods that lead you to the solution. Every cryptic
crossword clue
is a mini-puzzle in itself, a testament to linguistic ingenuity. This one is no exception, proving once again that the art of crossword setting is alive and well, delighting solvers with its intricate layers and rewarding payoffs.
Did this particular
crossword clue
give you a moment of pause? Or did you spot the answer right away? Share your thoughts on this one in the comments below! What was your favorite clue this week? And if you’re ever stuck on a tricky
crossword clue
, you know where to find me!
Available Answers:
SONATAS.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 7 August 2025