Crossword

2596: Charades

Unclued lights provide three definitions each of a whole word and of its two syllables. Solvers should highlight the word where it appears on this page. Across 1    In clinic came up against a barman (7)6    Walker and cyclist on stone (7)12    Polishes round back of altar in hallowed places (7)14    Bird in casserole with two eggs?

Crossword 2595: Three of a kind

The unclued lights display a common feature, different in each example. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. Across 1 Tracks birds (5) 4 Top gear when cornered? (6,3) 9 So democrat organised convoys (10) 11 Unfinished old sailing boat in Sri Lankan city (5) 12 Expert model offer (7) 14 Capable assistant at office? (5) 15 Some

2594: Dotty + Nosey

Eight unclued lights spell out the second half of a poem: ‘8 (4,5) 37; 1D (6,4); 39 (3,6) 40; 10 (3,5,2) 24 25.’ The title cryptically suggests its author.         Across    1    Gossipy quartet of bridge players play at last (5)    4    Accompanying Ford, Maggie’s oddly withdrawn (9) 11    Duty of French king

2593: Capital Development

Six unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. The remaining three must be filled to display what connects the original six (13, two words). Across 12    Old Rodin bust covered? (6)13    Goal to mingle with rich ruler (8)14    Horns from my province (5)16    Reply from setter breaking lance (6)19    E.g. Macron’s cheek,

2592: Uncle Victor

The unclued Across lights were of a kind, as are the unclued Down lights now. All are verifiable in Brewer under 16. Across 4    Team go over to Irish monument (6,5)11    Train pass daughter’s lost (7)12    Delicate and light, keeping in time (6)13    Colluding with ancient tribe’s hilarious escapades (2,7)19    Band’s origin (7)21    Get together

2591: Get over it

The nine individual unclued lights form three sets of three, each set related to a theme word in a different way. The theme word is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted. Across 5    Most appropriate page in a quiz (6)10    I’m praised for moving to retain university committee (10)12    Queen is taking a

2590: Have a go

Seven unclued lights (all real words) are 36s minus one letter. A further 36 formed from the omitted letters will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 1    Confederate creeshes wheels (8)5    Poem (anonymous) involving ship in port (6)9    Crooked creep with agent making profit (10)16    Tinware company backed predator (6)17    A

2589: Oddly stumps out

The unclued lights (one of two words, two singletons and four pairs) are of a kind in green. Across 1 Fair blood relation in awful surroundings hardly seen (4,7) 7 Equipment for Bell, Athey and Trescothick initially (3) 13 Light US railroad truck is a timeless barrow boy’s truck (7) 15 Head of Government in

2588: Necessary evils

All the unclued lights can be followed by the same word. Elsewhere, ignore three accents. Across 12    Positive Belgian forward cutting in has chances (10)13    Nabs informer admitting pressure (6)18    Memorial to fish-keeper ignores a question about Frank? (9)19    Flap about a kid whose name maybe on TV? (9)20    This monster turns 22, nearly (4)21   

2587: Silver

Five of a kind (including two of two words) can be derived from the letters of 26/27, 40/41, 46/47, 3/34 and 10/39 (all real words). 32/12D suggests mispronounced praise of the theme. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.         Across    1    Soldiers drill in circle (5)    5    Knave less than chaste (3)     8    Rude

2586: Inst

To start off the New Year, the unclued lights (one of two words) share a common feature. Across 11    A female, for example, talked of items for discussion (6) 14    It happened during the 70s (5) 15    Regularly reveal art of great wordsmith (5) 16    Our Fraser getting hold of 111 (6) 17    Article aboard

Birthday Boy

Two unclued lights are a title (three words) and its creator (two words). Remaining unclued lights are four names and eight titles (either singly or paired, including two each of two, three and four words and one of five words), each name being associated with two of the titles. The theme word connecting them all

2585: Happy Anniversary

An anniversary (1A, three words) today offers ten unclued entries, all of whose unchecked and cross-checking letters spell out HAHA! DRY GINS ASSURING TRASHY ANAGRAMS. Across 9    State welcome hosted by Oscars (4) 11    Stanza in excessive, unending Ave Maria delaying mass (6,4) 12    Bash old boy, a grass (4) 18    Pulling evenly, stripped part of

2584: Song XI

‘10/30’ (4,1,4,3,2,4) is the first line of a song whose tune, originally called ‘1D’ (6,2,1,5), was composed by a future 40D/2 and was often played by 39/6. The song’s title explains 34. The composer’s surname will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded.         Across    1    City in Israel bloke traverses

2583: Out of place

Five unclued Across lights are of a kind and are out of place as the five unclued Down lights.         Across    1    Thinly scattered food chain outside of Stevenage (6)    7    Place in complete shade (6) 13    Multitude of fishes on sandbank (5) 15    Fruit ain’t green when squeezed (9) 20    Fruit and

2582: Chief whip

3 28 40 1D 8 37. Two other unclued entries were involved. Ignore accents.         Across    1    Austrian novice without much flesh (8)    5    Gift of story books (6)    9    Man of uncertainty begins here, uncertainly (10) 14    Jenny perhaps was and is uninitiated (3) 16    Unruffled, drive GTi out of African

2581: In the balance

The unclued lights are three sets of three words of a kind, all linked by a theme word represented by one clued answer which must be highlighted.         Across    1    Where pupils are receiving gentle hugs (8)    8    Finished structure erected in triumph (4) 11    Goal to renovate new hotel figures in Levantine

2580: Cobbled

Around the perimeter starting at square 20 and reading clockwise are five themed solutions, ten words in total. The other unclued lights (four pairs) continue the theme, if 12 Across is pluralised. Ignore two apostrophes.         Across 11    Fiddle with jacket removed after a dip? (5) 13    Get rid of European visitor – that’s not

2579: Destructive plot

One unclued entry (three words) gives the theme, and five others give two-word names directly connected with it. Remaining unclued entries give two examples of the theme phrase, one of two words and one of three. Across 1 US underdogs willingly bring moggies under control? (4,4) 7 I’m sorry, love, to get info about daughter

2578: Torture

The same word appears as eight headwords in Chambers. Unclued lights indicate what they mean. The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 10 German town invited Newton twice (5-5) 11 Smart monarch nailing the ceremony (6) 12 Granny’s wonderful honey (3,4) 14 Yes, grandparent’s about to be of