Sheeplike crossword

Crosswords give many people a pleasant pastime. A solver faces a mental test and feels satisfaction when the grid is complete. The clue “Sheeplike” shows the kind of wordplay that fans enjoy. The five letter answer is “OVINE,” the plain Latin-derived adjective that means “of or like a sheep.” The word packs wool flocking instinct and mild temper into one short slot. People who have not met “ovine” before need only know that it comes from the Latin “ovis,” which means sheep. The term covers every sheep trait - the heavy coat, the gentle manner, the habit of staying with the group. When the puzzle setter uses the word, the solver must link the clue to that single precise adjective. Crosswords mirror the culture plus the tongue in which they appear. “Sheeplike” will stir unlike pictures in unlike minds. A farmer sees grass, animals and dogs. A city dweller may picture faceless obedience. Both readings fit the same five letters. The pleasure lies in the search. When the letters click into place, the solver feels brief, clear triumph. “Sheeplike” is one small instance of the countless neat answers that constructors hide and hunters rejoice to find.