The Lexicon, Vol. 2

Riзa Night is an associate editor of the Canadian Book Review Annual.

“The Lexicon,” a popular weekly feature in two Nova Scotia
newspapers, is a hybrid: a cross between a word-search puzzle (where a
list of words is given and solvers must merely find the words on the
accompanying grid) and a regular crossword puzzle (where clues must be
solved by finding appropriate synonyms). This volume contains 52 Lexicon
puzzles, none published previously.

For each puzzle here, a list of 24 definitions is provided; solvers
must first determine what ordinary word (there are no definitions of the
exotic “three-toed sloth” type commonly found in crossword puzzles)
fits the definition. Word lengths are given; the words being sought run
from 3 letters up to 8 or 9, with the average being around 4 to 6
letters. After determining the correct solution for each definition, the
solver must then find the word in an accompanying 12-letter-wide and
12-letter-deep grid: words may run forward, backward, up, down, or
diagonally, but they always run in a straight line. Solvers who get
stuck can sometimes work backward by looking at the grid until a word
pops out, and then looking through the list of unsolved clues to find
one that the newly spotted word fits.

According to the book’s publisher, these puzzles have been “enjoyed
by all age groups from elementary school children to senior citizens,”
and the vocabulary level bears out that claim. The clues provided are
generally quite simple—“a person visiting someone’s home (5)”
defines “guest”—and the puzzles’ level of difficulty appears to
be quite uniform throughout. A large, easy-to-read type size has been
chosen, which effectively counteracts the slightly fuzzy printing
resolution. The book would probably make a fine supplement to a
language-arts or ESL class, or a relaxing pastime for people looking for
word-oriented fun that doesn’t require massive mental effort.