Clues are presented in alphabetical order of their solutions. The solutions have then to be fitted into the grid, jigsaw-fashion. A Striving for scope backing number one (8) A Tense lover short of money (6) B Child’s first book and game (10) C Mark in vehicle beside French joiner (5) C Made money around outhouse
A pair of unclued lights (three words in total) give an event. Remaining unclued lights, including a pair (three words in total), each bring to mind the same relevant word in one of three different ways. Across 1 Collectors trim and polish bits in disrepair (14) 9 Ape with recurrent depression in trap (7)
One unclued light, defined by the title, is a word that can be divided into three words; each of these defines each of three of the other unclued lights. Across 1 Unsteady in yard, thrust backward (5) 10 Mixture of metals in roof really worked (10, hyphened) 14 Check sun and
The unclued Across lights become thematic when a suffix is appended. The individual unclued Down lights (one a proper noun) also become thematic when a different suffix is appended; 1 Down consists of three further words which individually become thematic in the same way as the unclued Down ones do. The unchecked letters of all
Unclued lights are words from a famous poem whose title will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 4 Fox then dish regulator (11, hyphened) 11 Foals need bananas like certain bats (9, hyphened) 12 Some ignore a great bore (5) 13 Payments to Pope in old
One unclued light (four words) is the title of a 40 recorded by 43 (two words). This title forms a cryptic indication of one unclued light, which defines each of the other unclued lights. Across 11 Unlucky guys taken in by bad old lie (9, hyphened) 12 Try to turn round cubic
The subtraction reveals the link between the unclued lights which saw light then. Three unclued lights consist of two words, and others form four pairs. In addition, a personal announcement is revealed clue by clue, for starters. Across 1 Jaunty seat astern with hot bearing (13, two hyphens) 9 Unitarian’s cross, interrupted by vulgar
Seven clues contain a redundant word, each defining one unclued light. These seven unclued lights all undergo partial 1 across (in Collins) before entry, in a consistent manner. Resulting grid entries are not real words. Unchecked and cross-checking letters in all eight unclued lights could give: NEWS — I’LL HINT THIS: CRUX’S LATIN Across
Seven unclued entries are all examples of the other. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 11 Ginger wine and rose (9, hyphened) 12 A long, aspirational character (5) 14 Feel for plunder, departing from honesty (4) 15 Remain undecided, lacking hint from photo finish (3) 18 Inoffensive, but for second, rude (7) 19 Less clear
The unclued four-letter words can be paired in a particular way to form the remaining unclued lights, one of two words. Elsewhere, ignore two accents. Across 1 Border force on bank guarding river (8) 5 View of a hill removed from a magazine (6) 10 Take steps against token performance (10) 12 As a
In ten clues the wordplay leads to the answer plus one extra letter. These letters in clue order give a name (two words) to which are questionably attributed the unclued lights (in Brewer), which make three phrases: one of six words, one of three, one of four (thematically five?). Across 4 See me in
Two unclued lights form the title by which a 38 32 is commonly known. This title’s first word defines one unclued light, and can also be divided into two words, each of which is defined by an unclued light. The title’s second word defines each of the remaining three unclued lights. Ignore one diacritic in
The unclued lights, (two of two words), are of a kind. Chambers does not give the solution at 12 Across. So as to avoid alternative thematic solutions at 28A, solvers should know that the first letter is the same as the final one. Across 2 Amblers won’t be adapting military item (13, three words)
Unclued lights are six characters from 45 and its author. Five of these undergo 45 in one way before entry; the other two must undergo 45 in another way afterwards (leaving real words). Collins confirms the thematic information. Across 1 Radical dissent about America’s dirty quality (9) 11 Briefly desiring drug (7) 13 Endlessly
Each of fifteen clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell the four-word title of a work by an artist. Answers to clues in italics are to be treated and entered in the grid as indicated by this title; definitions of resulting entries are supplied by unclued lights. Two clued
This puzzle is a landmark for D(0)C: his first crossword appeared in The Spectator in the issue dated July 4th 1981 and his puzzles have appeared almost every third week since then. The unclued lights (three of two words) and the others when paired correctly represent initially the total which D(0)C reaches with this puzzle.
Clockwise round the grid from 16 run the titles of four works (4,4,9,6,1,5,3,5,3,4,6) by a late great 3 (two apostrophes) followed by the 3’s initials. The remaining unclued lights combine to give a further such title (three words in total). Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. Across 9 Middle-Easterner very soon returns (5) 10 Shrew lacks
‘21D/14’ (four words in total) is an instruction (in ODQ) with which solvers will comply by inserting the remaining unclued lights. The source of the instruction will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 1 Brand of amplifier adopted by meetings (7) 5 Electronic device university dumped (obsolete calculator) (7) 9
The unclued lights (one of two words) can be resolved into three associated trios which are not the solution to the problem. Solvers have to search the completed grid and then highlight the trio which does so. Across 11 Maigret’s sidekick has read case in French (5) 12 Those in the band that take
The same 26 appears six times in 1D. Remaining unclued lights exemplify its different meanings. The 26 will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 7 Chief cycling daily (4) 11 Young man has time for special author (5) 12 Food Victor feeds forces (6) 13 A road alongside hill
