Ximenean
/hɪˈmeɪ.ni.ən/
Ximenean adjective: of or pertaining to the cryptic crossword style used and defined by "Ximenes" (Derrick Somerset Macnutt), whereby an acceptable cryptic clue must have a precise definition, a fair and strictly grammatical subsidiary indication, and no redundant elements beyond these.
Adjective
Ximenean (comparative more Ximenean, superlative most Ximenean)
- Of or pertaining to the cryptic crossword style used and defined by "Ximenes" (Derrick Somerset Macnutt), whereby an acceptable cryptic clue must have a precise definition, a fair and strictly grammatical subsidiary indication, and no redundant elements beyond these.
- For example, I did not follow a Ximenean rule that a member of a larger class cannot be used to define the class itself (one poster brought this up).1992 July 28, Warren Usui, “ACC 5 -- The rest of the clues.”, in rec.puzzles.crosswords (Usenet)
- Don Manley calls these non-Ximenean clues “wild and woolly” and worries they're far too common.2009, Dean Olsher, From Square One: A Meditation, with Digressions, on Crosswords
- Pertaining to the religious teachings and publications of Ximénez de Cisneros.
- Speaking of the Ximenean Polyglot, Prescott calls it a “noble monument of piety, learning, and munificence, which entitles its author to the gratitude of the whole Christian world.”—Ferd. 5r Isab., Vol. III., p. 289.1851, Paul MACLACHLAN, The Bible: Its Use and Abuse; Or, an Inquiry Into the Results of the Respective Doctrines of the Catholic and Protestant Churches, Relative to the Interpretation of the Word of...
- In the oldest Mozarabic service-book (the Orationale Gothicum) the series of services of instruction for the Compétents (Missae Cate- chumenorum) is confined to three weeks, and not, as in the Ximenean printed service-books, extended to six weeks.1909, The Journal of Theological Studies
Noun
Ximenean (plural Ximeneans)
- A cruciverbalist or crossword fan who shares Ximenes's beliefs about fair crossword setting.
- I managed to complete a puzzle and as Ximenes enjoyed solving it, and as I thought he might welcome the opportunity to enter a clue writing contest himself, I decided to send the puzzle to a few more Ximeneans and set the name of the author of the quotation as the word to be clued.1977, 'Apex', "Stephen Sondheim 'The Lyric Poet of Broadway' ... and Crossword Composer?", Games & Puzzles, page xlix
- The home was in Leatherhead, which Ximeneans would despise as a signal for L, but let's keep with the action.2012, David Astle, Puzzled: Secrets and clues from a life in words, →ISBN
Examples of Ximenean in a sentence
- […] the Ximenean camp […] makes up the hardliners, setters and solvers who insist on every clue being thoroughly sound in both grammar and execution […]2012, David Astle, Puzzled: Secrets and clues from a life in words:
- As Bunthorne puts it, 'Of course, I am a Ximenean.2013, Sandy Balfour, Pretty Girl In Crimson Rose, →ISBN:
Antonyms of Ximenean
Forms of Ximenean
| Adjective | |
|---|---|
| comparative | more Ximenean |
| superlative | most Ximenean |
| Noun | |
| plural | Ximeneans |
Origin of Ximenean
Ximénez or Ximenes + -an
Questions about Ximenean
- What does Ximenean mean?
- Ximenean means of or pertaining to the cryptic crossword style used and defined by "Ximenes" (Derrick Somerset Macnutt), whereby an acceptable cryptic clue must have a precise definition, a fair and strictly grammatical subsidiary indication, and no redundant elements beyond these.
- How do you use Ximenean in a sentence?
- […] the Ximenean camp […] makes up the hardliners, setters and solvers who insist on every clue being thoroughly sound in both grammar and execution […]
- What part of speech is Ximenean?
- Ximenean can be an adjective or a noun.
- How do you pronounce Ximenean?
- Ximenean is pronounced /hɪˈmeɪ.ni.ən/.
Words near Ximenean in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: Ximenean (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this entry: “Ximenean.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/ximenean. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.