#32026-10-24·Hidden Word

Cryptic Clue #3

Use the 4 progressive hint tiers below or solve cleanly with 0 hints!

#3⭐ Flawless

Difficulty:

Secret agent concealed in modern spycraft(3)

Setter: Telescope

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Hints:

Post-Solve Analysis

Setter's Editorial Walkthrough

Setter: Telescope

1. Tripartite Structural Breakdown

Straight Definition (First Word)Secret agentDictionary synonym of target solution

Wordplay Indicator (Hidden Word)concealed inInstructs the operation

Fodder & Enumerationmodern SPYcraft (3)Yields exactly 3 letters

2. Wordplay Equation

Hidden in "modern SPYcraft" = SPY

3. Mechanics & Setter Deception

The indicator "concealed in" tells you that the answer is visibly embedded inside the phrase "modern SPYcraft". Extracting the letters gives SPY ("Secret agent").

Master this mechanism: Read the complete Hidden Word Guide →

Check related indicators: Browse Indicator Lexicon →

Clue #3 Questions & Answers

Q1.What is the straight definition in Clue #3?▼

The straight definition is "Secret agent", placed at the very beginning of the clue under the Extreme Placement Rule.

Q2.How does the wordplay in Clue #3 work?▼

This is a classic Hidden Word clue. The equation is: Hidden in "modern SPYcraft" = SPY. The indicator "concealed in" tells you that the answer is visibly embedded inside the phrase "modern SPYcraft". Extracting the letters gives SPY ("Secret agent").

Q3.What is the significance of the enumeration (3)?▼

The enumeration (3) signifies that the target solution consists of exactly 3 letters.

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