Welcome back to another deep dive into the wonderfully intricate world of crossword clues! There’s nothing quite like that moment when a seemingly impenetrable phrase suddenly unravels, revealing its clever secret. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on a particularly engaging one that’s sure to have tickled the brains of many a solver:
“Parent ultimately to regret being faithful (4)“
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At first glance, this crossword clue might appear to be a jumble of unrelated concepts. “Parent,” “ultimately,” “regret,” “faithful”—how do these disparate ideas converge into a mere four letters? This is precisely where the genius of a well-crafted crossword clue lies, inviting us to look beyond the obvious and embrace the subtle art of linguistic acrobatics.
Let’s unpack this intriguing crossword clue, piece by piece, as any seasoned solver would. The number in parentheses, “(4),” immediately tells us our target word is concise, which can sometimes make the challenge even more acute. Four-letter words often require pinpoint precision in their definition and construction.
The first crucial element to consider in this crossword clue is the word “ultimately.” In the lexicon of crossword puzzles, “ultimately” is a well-known indicator for the
last letter
of a preceding word. So, “Parent ultimately” guides us directly to the final letter of the word “Parent.” This is a classic trick, a foundational piece of any good crossword clue, designed to provide a definite starting point for our four-letter quest. Identifying these indicators is a key skill in mastering any tricky crossword clue.
Now, we’re left with “to regret being faithful.” This is where the true heart of the challenge—and the brilliance of this particular crossword clue—resides. Are we looking for a synonym of “regret”? Or a definition of “being faithful”? Could it be a word that encompasses both ideas, perhaps in a nuanced or ironic way? The beauty here is in the potential for misdirection. A solver might initially jump to a common synonym for “regret,” only to find it doesn’t quite fit the remaining structure or the “being faithful” part of the clue. Similarly, “being faithful” could lead down several semantic paths.
The key to deciphering this crossword clue lies in finding the precise word that seamlessly combines the initial letter derived from “Parent ultimately” with a meaning that elegantly bridges “to regret” and “being faithful.” It demands a breadth of vocabulary and an agile mind to consider multiple interpretations of these concepts. Is there a single four-letter word that, when seen through the unique lens of a crossword setter, perfectly encapsulates a state or action connected to these ideas?
This type of challenging crossword clue encourages lateral thinking. It’s not just about direct dictionary definitions, but about the clever interplay of words that often hints at a less obvious, but perfectly logical, solution. The satisfaction comes not just from filling in the blanks, but from appreciating the ingenuity behind the construction of the crossword clue itself.
So, take a moment to ponder this delightful crossword clue. Consider the various meanings of “regret” and “faithful,” and how they might combine with that initial letter we extracted. It’s a testament to the art of crossword setting, where every word in a crossword clue is chosen with purpose, designed to guide and, at times, playfully mislead the solver. What four-letter word do you think perfectly captures the essence of this enigmatic phrase? The answer, as always, is waiting to be discovered through careful thought and a little bit of wordplay magic.
Available Answers:
TRUE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 17 July 2025