The unclued lights (including one of three words, one of two words, and one hyphened) form two thematic groups in the grid. They consist of a theme word, four lights which it defines in one sense, and three which it defines in another. A fourth example of this latter group, part of an unclued light, must be highlighted. Ignore one apostrophe.
Across
10 See bird that’s yellow (6)
11 Old, tragic character’s love for pungent stuff (7)
13 Cook destroying starter in oven (4)
14 Assessment of painter – one’s in shock (9)
17 Suspect pockets diamonds with hesitation in TV programme (6)
19 Time judge gets banned (4)
20 Bird’s tail, it’s said (4)
21 Monkey business by a palm tree (6)
22 Poet’s got back dog, cutting grass (7)
24 Fresh meat in part of London (6)
25 Boy’s nan almost meeting old uncle (6)
28 Writer slowing down by hospital in market town (7)
31 Opposed to language following scripture (6)
32 Right behind low berth (4)
34 In Glasgow, pinch paintings here (4)
37 African people’s champion protecting queen (6)
39 Excited at a virgin changing (9)
40 Knight given drink and food (4)
41 E.g. Zeno’s quote about gripping bit of yarn (7)
42 Showed boredom with study method from east (6)
Down
2 Period certain to get correction (7)
3 Like a religious mystic and his acid trips (7)
4 Like “Das Boot”, reportedly any vehicle ending in disaster (6)
5 Foreign clergyman, put in shade, got thinner (7)
6 For Rommel, the soldiers, going north, got lost (5)
7 Wonder at high level (8, two words)
8 Polish region with farm for all to see and valley (7)
9 It’s growing out from nut getting consumed (5)
16 Spanish relative’s new provençal dish (4)
23 Aren’t I as drunk, getting wine? (8)
26 One about to stop network, one no longer working (7)
27 Chief from record company heading for ruin (4)
28 Power and money to guard sacred work (7)
29 President’s veto on a decorative art (7)
30 Loose woman, granted, is a dish (7)
33 Soldier’s horse turning up around Germany (6)
35 American difficult to believe in any way (5, two words)
36 Old giant, alien vessel (5)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 20 April. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers Dictionary instead of cash— ring the word ‘Dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2205, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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