0xharib/xword2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

Chosen to strip off, servicemen stand before the faithful (7)

LECTERN

Chosen to strip off, servicemen stand before the faithful (7) (e)**LECTE**(d) ("chosen" stripped, i.e. with no outer layers) + **R.N. **(Royal Navy, so "servicemen") A lectern is a reading "stand", especially in a church so, "before the faithful".

In London district, foreign cash goes on drug providing a fix (15)

TROUBLESHOOTING

In London district, foreign cash goes on drug providing a fix (15) In **TOOTING **("London district"), **ROUBLES **("foreign cash") goes on **H **(heroin, so "drug") **T (ROUBLES H) OOTING

Lands a few blows in a deceptively promising period (5,4)

FALSE DAWN

Lands a few blows in a deceptively promising period (5,4) *(lands a few)

Insectivore concealed in cane abroad (7)

ECHIDNA

Insectivore concealed in cane abroad (7) **HID** ("concealed") in *(cane) The echidna or spiny ant-eater is found in Australia and New Guinea.

Nobody imprisons half a continent in cell (7)

NEURONE

Nobody imprisons half a continent in cell (7) **NONE** ("nobody") "imprisons" **EUR**(ope)

College study, including reading, is a fabulous thing (7)

UNICORN

College study, including reading, is a fabulous thing (7) **UNI**(versity) + **CON** ("study") "incuding" **R**(eading) (one of the three Rs)

Beast one very quietly smuggled into house (5)

HIPPO

Beast one very quietly smuggled into house (5) **1 **+ **pp **("very quietly", in music – short for pianissimo) "smuggled into" **Ho.**(use)

Panting to get hold of riches, for a start? (8)

GRASPING

Definition: Panting to get hold of riches, for a start **GASPING **(panting) "to get hold of" **R**(iches) I think this is meant to be an &lit clue, but I'm not convinced that it works.

Capital changes hands for dog (6)

PLAGUE

Definition: dog **P(L** instead of R)**AGUE

Drunkard covers another's back (7)

TOSSPOT

Definition: Drunkard <=**TOPS**** + SOT **("covers" and "another" (drunkard) back)

Powerful woman is seducer but no tease, we hear (7)

EMPRESS

Definition: Powerful woman (t)**EMP**(t)**RESS **the T's have been removed ("no tease" is a homophone of No Ts, inidcated by "we hear")

Old climber is sheepish (5)

OVINE

Definition: sheepish **O**(ld) + **VINE

Religious practice, one adopted by the big guns (9)

ORDINANCE

Definition: Religious practice **I** ("one") "adopted by" **ORDNANCE **("big guns")

Yours truly feeds sick rural man on IV, perhaps (5,7)

ROMAN NUMERAL

Definition: IV, perhaps **ME **("yours truly") + *(rural man on)

Soup Ingmar regularly sampled in island port (12)

MULLIGATAWNY

Definition: Soup **I**(n)**G**(m)**A**(r) "in" **MULL** ("island" off the west of Scotland) + **TAWNY** (a type of strong "port")

Political upheaval in Cuba's capital shown by up-to-date broadcast (4,5)

COUP D’ETAT

Definition: Political upheaval **C**(uba) + *(up-to-date)

Son's reluctant to become tree-climber (5)

SLOTH

Definition: tree-climber **S**(on) + **LOTH **(reluctant)

Social gathering's first to honour Alberich's hairdo (7)

BEEHIVE

Definition: hairdo **BEE** ("social gathering", such as a sewing bee) + **H**(onour) + **I'VE **("Alberich's")

Tour guide indicates font (7)

COURIER

Definition: Tour guide Double definition – a courier is a tour guide and courier is also a typeface.

One who made will primarily disposed of . . . this? (6)

ESTATE

Definition: One who made will primarily disposed of . . . this? (6) (t)**ESTATE **("one who made a will" with its "primary" letter disposed of)

Minute exotic tree planted in church yard – or churchyard? (8)

CEMETERY

Definition: churchyard **M**(inute) + *(tree) "planted in **CE **(Church (of England)) **Y**(ard), so **CE(M-ETER)Y

Climbing hill, Yank gets tummy trouble (6)

GUTROT

Definition: tummy trouble <= **TOR**(hill)** TUG **(yank)

Genoa perhaps is under a second attack (6)

ASSAIL

Definition: attack **SAIL** (of which genoa is a type) "under" **A S**(econd)

Former investment in opera? Sadly, not a sausage (9)

PEPPERONI

Definition: sausage **PEP **(Personal Equity Plan, so "former investment") + *(in oper)

No love, not a man to inhale fresh air of the country (8,6)

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Definition: air of the country *(nt a man to inhale)

In vexation I pull up plant (5)

LUPIN

Definition: plant Hidden backwards in "vexatio**N I PUL**l"

Frenchman's held up by drab vegetation (8)

GREENERY

Definition: vegetation <=** RENE **"held up by" **GREY **("drab") so, **GRE(ENER)Y

Wind section's opening note coming in too soon (8)

EASTERLY

Definition: Wind **S**(ection) + **TE **("note") "coming in" **EARLY **("too soon")

In two senses, a feature of The Times? (7,7)

LEADING ARTICLE

Definition: In two senses, a feature of The Times "The Times" features a **LEADING ARTICLE**, so ARTICLE is a feature. I think the setter is indicating that LEADING is also a description of The Times, but that is subjective. Am I missing something? See comments below for alternative readings.

Very trivial cryptic clue requiring less up top (9)

MINUSCULE

Definition: Very trivial *(clue) with **MINUS **("less") on top

Can your setter keep Conservative sweet? (8)

AMICABLE

Definition: sweet **AM I ABLE **("can your setter") "keeping" **C**(onservative)

French writer of fine novel La Brute (8)

FLAUBERT

Definition: French writer **F**(ine) + *(la brute) Refers to Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) who wrote *Madame Bovary*, one of my favourite novels.

Refined crude oil is stored in part by European (6)

POLITE

Definition: Refined *(oil) "stored in **Pt. **("part") + **E**(uropean)

Shout about the woman's virginity (6)

CHERRY

Definition: virginity **CRY** (shout) "about" **HER** ("the woman's")

Germany's crack tenor (5)

DRIFT

Definition: tenor **D **(Germany) + **RIFT** ("crack")

More potent, cheaper drugs distributed (12)

SUPERCHARGED

More potent, cheaper drugs distributed (12) *(cheaper drugs)

Ban item malfunctioning in the atmosphere (7)

AMBIENT

Ban item malfunctioning in the atmosphere (7) *(ban item)

State airline left first (7)

LIBERIA

State airline left first (7) **IBERIA **("airline") with **L**(eft) "first"

Charger right to wear socks (5)

HORSE

Charger right to wear socks (5) **R**(ight) "to wear" **HOSE** ("socks")

Consenting adult? Dyke embraces a German (8)

AGREEING

Consenting adult? Dyke embraces a German (8) **A**(dult) + **GREG **(Dyke) "embraces" **EIN **("a" in German), so **A-GRE(EIN)G

Passing on charge laid out in Brussels treaty which lacks content (6,4)

ESTATE DUTY

Passing on charge laid out in Brussels treaty which lacks content (6,4) **STATED **("laid out") in **E.U. **("Brussels") + **T**(reat)**Y**, so **E(STATED)U-TY

Drop charge (4)

TEAR

Drop charge (4) Double definition – (tear "drop") and "charge" as in "move quickly"

Aperitifs? Order bottles in that case (2,2)

IF SO

Aperitifs? Order bottles in that case (2,2) Hidden in (indicated by "bottles") "aperit**IFS O**rder"

Irrational group lacking what should always be on (5,5)

PILOT LIGHT

Irrational group lacking what should always be on (5,5) **PI **("irrantional" number) + **LOT **("group") + **LIGHT**("lacking")

Have kinky sex among a number of people from Clacton? (8)

TOWNSMEN

Have kinky sex among a number of people from Clacton? (8) **OWN **("have") **SM **("kinky sex", or sadomasochism) "among" **TEN **("a number"), so **T(OWN-SM)EN

Powerhouse to snap (5)

PHOTO

Powerhouse to snap (5) **P**(ower) + **Ho.**(use) + **TO

English town engineers Apple scandal? (7)

REIGATE

English town engineers Apple scandal? (7) **R.E. **(Royal Engineers) + **iGATE** (think iPad and Watergate, combine the two and you'd get an "Apple scandal")

Charger needing drink in Puerto Rico (7)

PLATTER

Charger needing drink in Puerto Rico (7) **LATTE **("drink") in **P**(uerto) **R**(ico) Hadn't come across "charger" meaning a "shallow disc" before, but it's in at least one online dictionary. I don't have my Chambers to hand, but will check to see if it's in there later.

Illuminate a bridge ruined by chargers (5,7)

LIGHT BRIGADE

Illuminate a bridge ruined by chargers (5,7) **LIGHT **("illuminate") + *(a bridge") Think "CHARGE of the Light Brigade"

Having escaped fire, Polish Greek character turns up with nightclothes (7)

UNBURNT

Having escaped fire, Polish Greek character turns up with nightclothes (7) <=(**RUB **("polish") + **NU (**"Greek character")) "with" **N**(igh)**T **(the outer layers or clothes" of NIGHT)

Canines already see support rising. What about that? (8)

EYETEETH

Canines already see support rising. What about that? (8) **YET **("already") + <=**TEE **("support") with **EH **("what") about, so **E(YET-EET)H

Clever charges undermine the expenditure caps (4)

CUTE

Clever charges undermine the expenditure caps (4) Caps (or tops of, so "first letters of") **C**(harges) **U**(ndermine) **T**(he) **E**(zpenditure)

Charge against Luxembourg's chargés d'affaires? (10)

ALLEGATION

Charge against Luxembourg's chargés d'affaires? (10) **A**(gainst) **L**(uxembourg) + **LEGATION** ("charge's d'affaires")

Part of roof beginning to buckle in storm (5)

GABLE

Part of roof beginning to buckle in storm (5) **B**(uckle) in **GALE **("storm")

Party about to welcome master in charge of rodents (7)

DORMICE

Party about to welcome master in charge of rodents (7) **DO **("party") + **RE **("about") "to welcome" **M**(aster) **I/C **("in charge"), so **DO-R(M-I/C)E

Resist charges wrongly shown by these (4,9)

CASH REGISTERS

Resist charges wrongly shown by these (4,9) *(resist charges)

Australian tennis player's violent tram rage gets charges brought here (8,5)

MARGARET COURT

Australian tennis player's violent tram rage gets charges brought here (8,5) *(tram rage) + **COURT **("charges brought here") Margaret Court won 24 Grand Slam titles, her first the Australian Open in 1960.

Commercial power gets people in film careful consideration, in America at least (10)

ADVISEMENT

Commercial power gets people in film careful consideration, in America at least (10) **AD **("commercial") + **VIS **("power") + **MEN** ("people") in **E.T. **("film") VIS means "force or power", according to several dictionaries, although it is not in common usage these days.

Directly lead one through 23 (4- 4)

SLAP-BANG

Directly lead one through 23 (4- 4) **Pb **(chemical symbol for "lead") + **A **("one") in **SLANG** (see 23dn)

Flyer noticed list of charges (7)

SAWBILL

Flyer noticed list of charges (7) **SAW **("noticed") + **BILL **("list of charges")

The gods could be haunted (7)

GHOSTED

The gods could be haunted (7) *(the gods)

Be rude about Pole's informal talk (5)

SLANG

Be rude about Pole's informal talk (5) **SLAG **("be rude") "about" **N**(orth) ("pole")

Starts to see pixies under rock outcrop (4)

SPUR

Starts to see pixies under rock outcrop (4) "starts to" **S**ee **P**ixies **U**nder **R**ock

Handy expressions of approval (8)

PLAUDITS

Handy expressions of approval (8) Cryptic definition – "plaudits" ~ applause, for which you require your hands.

Maroon thread (6)

STRAND

Maroon thread (6) Double definition

One-sided view from a correspondent? (8)

POSTCARD

One-sided view from a correspondent? (8) Cryptic definition – a postcard has a view on one side, normally.

Badly set university course, that's plain (6)

STEPPE

Badly set university course, that's plain (6) *(set) + **PPE** (short for Philosophy, Politics and Economics)

Girl comes back with something useful (5)

ASSET

Girl comes back with something useful (5) <=**TESSA

They ask questions of pitmen after cutback (9)

EXAMINERS

They ask questions of pitmen after cutback (9) **MINERS **"after" <=**AXE

Repetition is, after all, Peter Piper's speciality (12)

ALLITERATION

Repetition is, after all, Peter Piper's speciality (12) There is alliteration in "after all" and "Peter Piper". The clue also indicates that there may be something else going on – ITERATION after ALL, but I don't see the "iteration" = "Peter Piper" bit?

Weighed out prescribed food? (8,4)

BALANCED DIET

Weighed out prescribed food? (8,4) Cryptic definition

Wife of Perseus, wrongly named Dora (9)

ANDROMEDA

Wife of Perseus, wrongly named Dora (9) *(named dora)

He leads many to sin (5)

DEVIL

He leads many to sin (5) **D **("many") + **EVIL **("sin")

Is about to get up, but flags (6)

IRISES

Is about to get up, but flags (6) **IS **"about" **RISE **("to get up")

Nuts are found in them — and bolts (8)

SCUTTLES

Nuts are found in them — and bolts (8) Think coal scuttles and nut coal…

Motor found on fire, perhaps (6)

ENGINE

Motor found on fire, perhaps (6) As in "fire ENGINE"

As an afterthought, changes the songbooks (8)

PSALTERS

As an afterthought, changes the songbooks (8) **P.S. **("afterthought") + **ALTERS** ("changes")

Timber producer of high standing until found to be heartless (6)

POPLAR

Timber producer of high standing until found to be heartless (6) **POP**(u)**LAR **("of high standing")

A southern university river rises where Francis came from (6)

ASSISI

A southern university river rises where Francis came from (6) **A **+ **S**(outhern) + <=**ISIS **(the Thames at Oxford, therefore "university river")

Told he can become involved in an Olympic event (9)

DECATHLON

Told he can become involved in an Olympic event (9) *(told he can)

They provided new items here and original Christmas gifts (5,4,3)

THREE WISE MEN

They provided new items here and original Christmas gifts (5,4,3) *(new items here)

Everybody's playtime? (5)

TUTTI

Everybody's playtime? (5) In music, "tutti" means "all", from the Italian.

Sweet and perfect to order (5,3)

APPLE PIE

Sweet and perfect to order (5,3) Double definition

Oil and vinegar is bound to help the wound (8)

DRESSING

Oil and vinegar is bound to help the wound (8) Double definition

Progress with amorous overtures? (4,8)

MAKE ADVANCES

Progress with amorous overtures? (4,8) Not sure this is cryptic?

Like stories that can lead to novel (9)

ANECDOTAL

Like stories that can lead to novel (9) *(can lead to)

Case is essential up in Lincoln (8)

ABLATIVE

Case is essential up in Lincoln (8) <=**VITAL **"in" **ABE **(Lincoln)

Winter sport Aussie cricketers are famous for? (8)

SLEDGING

Winter sport Aussie cricketers are famous for? (8) Double definition – in cricket, players of the fielding side often try to put off batsmen by being sarcastic or less than complimentary about them, and that is known as "sledging".

Develop part of a revolver (6)

EVOLVE

Develop part of a revolver (6) (barely) hidden in "r**EVOLVE**r"

Their function is to secure quiet in class (6)

CLASPS

Their function is to secure quiet in class (6) **P** ("quiet" as in piano) "in" **CLASS

Once a rough expanse of water (5)

OCEAN

Once a rough expanse of water (5) *(once a)

Smaller companion dined with two Liberals in place (9)

SATELLITE

Smaller companion dined with two Liberals in place (9) **ATE **("dined") "with" **LL **("two Liberals") "in" **SITE** ("place"), so **S(ATE-LL)ITE

Money one might charge incautious tourist? (5)

RHINO

Money one might charge incautious tourist? (5) Double definition Rhino is a British slang word for cash, and a rhino(ceros) may charge a tourist on safari.

Worker touring wine town finds small animal (7)

BEASTIE

Worker touring wine town finds small animal (7) **BEE **("ant") "touring" **ASTI **("wine town")

On stage (3)

LEG

On stage (3) Double definition – in cricket, the leg side of the wicket is also called the "on side".

Support from Eden with monster taking new form (11)

ENDORSEMENT

Support from Eden with monster taking new form (11) *(eden monster)

Female in conflict ignoring right judgment (5)

FATWA

Female in conflict ignoring right judgment (5) **F**(emale) + **AT WA**(r) ("in conflict", wthout R(ight))

Sportsman earning roubles invested with Italian banker (3)

PRO

Sportsman earning roubles invested with Italian banker (3) **R**(oubles) "invested" in **PO **(a river in Italy, therefore "Italian banker")

Brother killed rook and flightless birds (5)

REMUS

Brother killed rook and flightless birds (5) **R**(ooks) + **EMUS** ("flightless bird") In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus founded Rome, but Remus was murdered by his brother.

Pig-headed little man seen after work in Hebridean island (11)

OPINIONATED

Pig-headed little man seen after work in Hebridean island (11) **TED **(short for Edward, so "little man") "after" **OP** ("work") **IN IONA **("Hebridean island")