Unpacking “Romanian holds a great obsession (5)“: A Crossword Clue Deep Dive
There are some crossword clues that just leap off the page, aren’t there? They grab your attention not just because they’re clever, or particularly tricky, but because they carry a certain mystique. Today’s feature, “Romanian holds a great obsession (5),” is precisely one of those. As a devoted solver of every kind of word puzzle, from quick cryptics to sprawling thematic giants, I find myself drawn to these enigmatic phrases that offer a delicious mental workout.
This particular crossword clue immediately sets off a cascade of thoughts for any seasoned puzzle enthusiast. First, the specific nature of “Romanian.” Is it referring to the nationality? The language? Or is it perhaps a clever misdirection, where “Romanian” is just a part of a larger wordplay construct? This is the beauty and the beast of cryptic crossword clues – they demand a close reading, an almost forensic examination of every single word. You can’t just skim and guess; every comma, every conjunction, every adjective, and every noun is a potential key to unlocking the puzzle.
Then we have “holds a great obsession.” This phrase is rich with possibility. “Obsession” clearly points towards the definition – what five-letter word signifies a strong, perhaps overwhelming, preoccupation? Immediately, your brain starts sifting through possibilities, trying to match them to a five-letter slot. But what about “holds”? In the intricate dance of crossword clue construction, words like “holds,” “contains,” “embraces,” or “around” are often strong indicators of a
container
clue. This means one part of the clue is literally “holding” or encompassing another part to form the final answer. It’s a classic move in the cryptic setter’s playbook, designed to make you think about words nested within words. And then there’s “great.” Is “great” part of the definition of the obsession itself, adding emphasis? Or is it a separate indicator, perhaps for something larger, more significant, or even an anagram indicator in a different type of clue?
The initial approach to any challenging crossword clue like this always involves a bit of deconstruction. You separate the definition from the wordplay. For “Romanian holds a great obsession (5),” the definition is almost certainly “great obsession.” The wordplay, therefore, must involve “Romanian” and “holds.” The (5) at the end, of course, gives us the crucial length of the answer, narrowing down the field of potential solutions considerably. This number is your best friend; it immediately cuts through a multitude of possibilities, leaving you with a more manageable set of potential words to consider.
What makes a crossword clue like this so satisfying is the way it forces you to engage with language on multiple levels. It’s not just about knowing words, but about understanding how they can be twisted, turned, and reinterpreted. The setter, in their wisdom, has crafted a miniature literary puzzle, packing layers of meaning into a handful of words. You have to think about synonyms, homophones, anagrams, abbreviations, and general knowledge, all while keeping an eye out for the specific tricks and conventions of cryptic clues.
When you encounter such a seemingly dense crossword clue, the first thing to remember is patience. Don’t rush. Take a deep breath and let your mind explore the various avenues. Could “Romanian” be an abbreviation? A specific part of a word that sounds like “Romanian”? Or is it just the letters R-O-M-A-N embedded within something else? And how does the concept of “holding” manifest itself? Is it literally one set of letters containing another, or is it a more abstract representation? The beauty of a well-crafted crossword clue lies in its ability to lead you down several plausible, yet ultimately incorrect, paths before the ‘aha!’ moment strikes.
Ultimately, the journey of solving a crossword clue like “Romanian holds a great obsession (5)” is a microcosm of the entire crossword experience. It’s a delightful challenge, a test of your vocabulary, your logical reasoning, and your ability to think creatively within a structured framework. It’s about peeling back the layers of linguistic deception to reveal the elegant simplicity of the answer. And that, dear solvers, is why we keep coming back for more. Every single time.
Available Answers:
MANIA.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 24 September 2025