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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

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

Solution to 2586: Inst

The unclued lights start with the trio JAN, the abbreviation for JANUARY which is ‘this month’ or ‘INST’, the puzzle’s title. First prize Thomas Williamson, Moygashel, Dungannon Runners-up Susan Bell, Reeth, N. Yorks; Richard Thorpe, Burntwood, Staffs

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

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

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

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

2577: Light and dark

The unclued lights (three of two words, one of which has an apostrophe) are of two kinds. Across 6 Eat away with genial wraith oddly (4,2) 12 Antibiotic disguised in nice pill (10) 14 He raises stock for reactor (7) 15 Second chapter on king and almost utterly mad literary character (4,6) 16 Medic enters

2574: A Chinese

The unclued Across lights (including a pair) are of a kind and the unclued Down lights can be preceded by another (associated) word.   Across 1 To obtain acknowledgement, order direct (6) 13 Love making fuss about … (5) 15 … drink in The Wheatsheaf in encampment (5,4) 21 Coolness of pal stoned by wild

2571: 10”

The unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind.   Across 1 Bringing down plane that was used on D-Day (7,5) 12 Heart tremor? (10) 14 Member in bar, musing (3) 17 Folds in damask curtains partly drawn back (5) 18 Married? Possibly him! (7) 19 Provide plaster (6) 22 Agamemnon’s father sure

2568: Next door have gone

The unclued lights, two of two words, and including four pairs using two of the unclued lights twice, are of a kind.   Across 1 Metal-workers task expanded reportedly to include trophy (4-4) 11 Bill’s new car. Capital! (5) 13 A way to work out the last part of Hedda Gabler, possibly (7) 17 Patrols

2565: 3 x 2

The unclued lights (two single words, one a proper noun, four pairs and one trio) share a certain feature.   Across 4 Insightful patient, ever worried (11) 11 Report of joints at hideout in London suburb (7) 12 Instruction to massage deep’s not hard (6) 16 Fears one is concealing crime (5) 19 Escape from

2562: Clear view but no vowels

The cryptic title of this week’s crossword leads to a five-letter representation of the theme. The unclued lights include two pairs; one solution has three words and six others are of two words.   Across 9 Wood sorrel plants tangled in 11 (4) 12 See 35 Down 14 Arrive at a junction in a flurry

2559: Platinum upgrade

Reading clockwise around the perimeter are six theme words, in random order, one of which starts in square 38. The other two theme words are the unclued lights, one of which can be preceded by one normal solution which solvers should highlight.   Across 11 Limerick perhaps, shortened to make an impression (5) 12 Go

2555: 6 x 2 mixtures

The unclued lights (one of two words) can be resolved into six pairs, in some way related. Ignore one acute accent.   Across 11 Doc’s assistant possibly giving camper aid (9) 12 Peaceful girl, alluring one, topless, at end of promenade (5) 14 Old tub’s revolving cover (4) 15 Gun, for instance, made from macrame.

2553: Island alien

The unclued lights (15 words in total) are to be arranged to provide a definition from Chambers of one of the normal clues which is NOT defined. Across 9 Worst of anything I kept in home (10) 14 Agreement apparently penniless lecturer returns (3) 16 Menus beginning with a cold collation – mostly spicy stuff

2550: Shorties – solution

The unclued lights and those clued without thematic definition (7, 11, 17, 30, 31, 32, 36 and 41) are SHORTened versions of Christian names which are confirmed as such in Chambers. First prize Chris James, Ruislip Manor, Middlesex Runners-up Ray Ridley, Tyne and Wear, South Shields; Jenny Atkinson, Little Chalfont, Bucks

2550: Shorties

The unclued lights and eight clued without thematic definition are of a kind, expressly confirmed in a section of Chambers.   Across 4 Artisan on board, apparently (9) 9 Airline having to secure shopping accessory (10, two words) 11 Alton United seen regularly (5) 12 State loudly and close the innings (7) 14 It’s terrible

2547: Ascending order

The (unrelated) unclued lights (one of three words, four of two words, (one with an apostrophe), one pair and two hyphened), can be arranged in ascending order with one appearing twice.   Across 4 Fire extinguisher reveals bone and shoe (11, two words) 11 Cross-country for Porterfield’s team (7) 13 Ken’s forte amending binders? (9,

2544: Fives

Clues lead to 5-letter solutions. Each set of ten clues is presented in alphabetical order of the solutions. Correct positioning in the grid of each set and the insertion of the appropriate letter in the central square will reveal six 11-letter words not otherwise clued. The 5-letter solutions to the four numbered clues are to