Perplexity

Losswords:

More entries from our perplexed dictionary, which deletes the letters of each word, in the right order, from its definition. And then to make matters worse, it closes the gaps between words. So "perplexity", defined as "poser of complex difficulty", would appear as "osofcomdfficul". The length of each missing word is indicated in brackets after the truncated definition.

th'hairyatmnt (9)

ppingrgorhairic (6)

ontallyfalltrss (6)

A copy of Chambers Encyclopaedic Dictionary awaits the first correct answer opened on 2 November. Entries to: Saturday Pastimes, The Independent, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL.

7 October answer:

854 x 854 = 729316

Winner: S Slack (Malvern)