0xharib/xword2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

Clue stringlengths 6 133	Answer stringlengths 3 46	Explanation stringlengths 5 888
The old in retreat about say-so, uneasily indifferent (7)	EASY-OSY	Definition: indifferent SAYSO* in YE< – apparently a Scots expession according to some sources, though C. doesn't mark it as such
Fairy dance, right round the family fire? (7)	RINGLET	Definition: Fairy dance INGLE in RT
Keen on a selection of skin tones (4)	INTO	Definition: Keen on Hidden in skIN TOnes
Old Scotsman's deranged to compete at Klosters, one might suppose? (6)	SKIVIE	Definition: Old Scotsman's deranged SKI VIE (compete) – Klosters is a ski resort
Eat cored and mashed yam roots (5)	ETYMA	Definition: roots E[a]T + YAM* – plural of etymon, meaning the root meaning of a word
Some work round Mid-East, odd scene for what debs go through? (10)	EMERGENCES	Definition: what debs go through ME in ERG (unit of work) + SCENE*. Do debs still "come out", or would "..went through.." have been more accurate?
Shuffle back row organized to catch circling chaps (13)	REARRANGEMENT	Definition: Shuffle REAR (back [row]?) + RAN (organized) + MEN (chaps) in GET (catch). Rear can be "the back… of an army", which perhaps justifies "back row", or maybe I've misinterpreted this..
Meat coated in salt – it's hot and dry (6)	SHAMAL	Definition: it's hot and dry HAM in SAL – variant of "shimall", a hot, dry wind in the Middle East
Company deficit is not special – these are huge (7)	COLOSSI	Definition: these are huge CO + LOSS + IS less S[pecial]
——, it's time to relax – does it involve getting hammered? (11)	WORKING-OVER	Definition: does it involve getting hammered Double definition
Guinness from the brewery needed for impatient Irelanders? (6)	ENTIRE	Definition: Guinness from the brewery Hidden in impatiENT IRElanders – "port or stout as delivered from brewery": surely this needs as indication that it's a definition-by-example?
Jock's personal Parisian manikin (4)	NAIN	Definition: Jock's personal Double definition – 'nain' is French for 'dwarf', which is one of the definitions of 'manikin', which explains why the clue doesn't use the French spelling 'mannequin'
Arm (fin) to cover 'fair warrior' (6)	FINLAY	Definition: fair warrior FIN + LAY. I was worried about lay (as opposed to lay on) for cover, by Chambers gives it. The "Some first names" section of C. says that this name probably means "fair warrior"
Doctor uniquely curtailed on type of fibre (6)	DRALON	Definition: type of fibre DR + ALON[E]
His life's carefree. Alpine, perhaps (5)	RILEY	Definition: His life's carefree Double definition – to "live the life of Riley" is to be carefree, and the Riley Motor company made a car called the Alpine Tourer
Veg diet is varied for processing food (9)	DIGESTIVE	Definition: processing food (VEG DIET IS)
Man noted for his song, unaccompanied, this writer's French (7)	SOLOMON	Definition: Man noted for his song SOLO + MON (French "my", i.e. "this writer's") – reference to the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament
Core coat in aquatint images (6)	INTIMA	Definition: Core coat Another hidden: aquatINT IMAges
Carriage pin found in old pot (6)	TELEGA	Definition: Carriage LEG in TEA (marijuana, pot – Chambers says it's "old US slang")
Early flight for holiday destination, often (6)	GREECE	Definition: Early flight Double definition (an old word for a flight of stairs for the first)
Toil over painting e.g. eucalypt (6)	TEWART	Definition: eucalypt TEW (to toil – not "hew" as I guessed) + ART (of which a painting is an example)
River, rapid roller near battlefield, one in spate? (5)	RISER	Definition: one in spate R + ISER – variant spelling of the site of a WW1 battle, but I don't know what "rapid roller" is doing, unless it's an alternative indication, or two, of R, which seems unlikely
Ring of the bell? My hooter was lit, too (4)	DONG	Definition: Ring of the bell Double definition – reference to Edward Lear's "The Dong with a [not 'the', as I was convinced the title went] Luminous Nose", though I'm not sure what the "too" is doing
Extremely hairy Philistine reaches party in high spirits (5,2)	HYPED UP	Definition: in high spirits H[air]Y P[hilistin]E + DUP (political party)
In 26 without, say, a type of hat (4,3)	PORK PIE	Definition: a type of hat LIEGE without EG (say) is LIE, for which PORK PIE is rhyming slang; it's also a type of hat
Frenchman with money for second drink (5)	JULEP	Definition: drink JULES with S[econd] replaced by P[ence]
Rake one chap used in occupation (9)	LIBERTINE	Definition: Rake I BERT in LINE (occupation, as in "What's My Line")
Some lemon has HNO3 containing carbon instead of nitrogen (6,4)	CITRIC ACID	Definition: Some lemon NITRIC ACID (HNO3) with C instead of N, though "containing" is a bit inaccurate
Party without a break (4)	SNAP	Definition: break A in SNP (another political party)
Puzzling row about a cowshed (hint: suspect not English) (12)	LABYRINTHINE	Definition: Puzzling A BYR[E] + HINT* in LINE (another line, though with a different indication here)
Making holy doctors snort cocaine (12)	CONSECRATION	Definition: Making holy (SNORT COCAINE)
Broadcast fictions which give substance to soaps? (4)	LYES	Definition: substance to soaps Homophone of "lies" (fictions)
My crime? Sat around, being crooked (10)	ASYMMETRIC	Definition: crooked (MY CRIME SAT)
Journo backed definition that's undignified (9)	DEMEANING	Definition: undignified Reverse of ED + MEANING (definition)
Subject of story told by Georgia (5)	LIEGE	Definition: Subject LIE (another one) + GE (code for the country, not the US state)
Problem getting old Times supplement? (7)	SETBACK	Definition: Problem SET BACK is TES, abbreviation for the Times Educational Supplement, always known to teachers as the "Times Ed", which I see is now officially called just TES; no longer an actual supplement to the paper, hence the "old"
Go wrong injecting soft enzyme (7)	TRYPSIN	Definition: enzyme P (soft) in TRY (a go) SIN (wrong). Trypsin is secreted by the pancreas, and is involved in the digestion of proteins
"Hello, sailor" is appropriate, when moving (6)	HIJACK	Definition: appropriate, when moving Hello, sailor = HI, JACK
Devout former judge and governor (6)	PILATE	Definition: judge and governor PI (devout) + LATE (former)
Copies potential partners, keeping mostly upbeat? (10)	DUPLICATES	Definition: Copies UP + LIC[k] (to beat) in DATES
President leading a merry dance? (5)	POLKA	Definition: merry dance POLK (James K Polk, 11th president of the US) + A
"Biopic strewn with lust, not love" (Advertiser) (9)	PUBLICIST	Definition: Advertiser (BIOPIC LUST)* less O
Thin artist reluctantly eating starters (4)	RARE	Definition: Thin RA + R[eluctantly] E[ating]
Hook holding one black French dressing gown (8)	PEIGNOIR	Definition: dressing gown I in PEG + NOIR
Spared once seduced, when short of time (8)	EXEMPTED	Definition: Spared EX [T]EMPTED
City about right latitude for common sort of golf tournament (6,4)	STROKE PLAY	Definition: common sort of golf tournament R in STOKE (Stoke on Trent, which was granted City status in 1925) + PLAY (latitude)
Standard measures for ale? That's right (9)	YARDSTICK	Definition: Standard YARDS (measures of ale) + TICK (mark against a correct answer)
Stops only child Penny filling in part of crossword (8)	OCCLUDES	Definition: Stops O.C. + D (old penny) in CLUES
Stop for a time in Bury, meeting male having sex (8)	INTERMIT	Definition: Stop for a time INTER + M + IT (sex)
Topless match, with players from one side in shades (6)	GREENS	Definition: shades [A]GREE + NS (partners in Bridge)
Blind test? (6)	SCREEN	Definition: Blind Double definition
In power, May's tense (5)	MIGHT	Definition: power MIGHT is the past tense of "may"
Old man, twice party leader (4)	PAPA	Definition: Old man I presume this is PA[rty] twice, though it's a bit of a stretch as (singular) "party leader". *A much better explanation from Larry et al: it's PA (old man) twice, with definition "party leader", which is P = PAPA in the NATO phonetic alphabet (or possibly Papa Doc Duvalier, though I'm less convinced by that).
Position at end of battle after officer's retreat (6)	LOCATE	Definition: Position Reverse of COL[onel] + AT + [battl]E
Radical replacing agnostic's in charge, having an official staff (8)	SCEPTRED	Radical replacing agnostic's in charge, having an official staff (8) SCEPTIC (agnostic) with IC replaced by RED (a radical)
Second home of modest form, such as stoker uses (6)	SHOVEL	Definition: such as stoker uses S + HOVEL
Noble short crusade given God's protection (8)	MARQUESS	Definition: Noble QUES[T] in MARS
Wartime provision made by Disraeli — rather unorthodox (3-4,7)	AIR-RAID SHELTER	Definition: Wartime provision (DISRAELI RATHER)
Pious argument repelled all on aboard, you might say (10)	WORSHIPFUL	Definition: Pious Reverse of ROW (argumen) + SHIPFUL (all [on] aboard) – I think this would read better without the "on", so I suspect a typo or faulty editing
Larva eats root (4)	GRUB	Definition: Larva Triple defintion – I initially thought "eats" was redundant, but of course it's a slightly slangy word for "food"
River — harmful water source (4)	RILL	Definition: water source R + ILL
Decorative scrollwork details on limo (10)	CARTOUCHES	Definition: Decorative scrollwork CAR (limo) + TOUCHES (details)
Finding success, mother and knight agreed to differ (6,3,5)	MAKING THE GRADE	Definition: Finding success MA + (KNIGHT AGREED)
Leading couples refused to attend agency course (8)	TENDENCY	Definition: course [at]TEND [ag]ENCY
Very game old soldier returning punch (6)	VIGOUR	Definition: punch V + reverse of RU (Rugby Unon – game) +O + GI (soldier)
Deliberately furtive about online meeting? (8)	SEDATELY	Definition: Deliberately E-DATE in SLY
Colleges of yore catering for all (6)	UNISEX	Definition: catering for all UNIS + EX (former, "of yore")
Many turning tail never to be found (4)	LOST	Definition: never to be found LOTS with the last two letters ("tail") reversed
Episcopal staff from down under featured in Herald (7)	CROZIER	Definition: Episcopal staff OZ in CRIER
Divine government chief welcomed by people in general (8)	THEARCHY	Definition: Divine government ARCH (chief) in THEY (people in general)
Fireside repository of weird occult tales? (4,7)	COAL SCUTTLE	Definition: Fireside repository (OCCULT TALES)
Sound made by little dogs is irritating (6)	PIQUES	Definition: is irritating Homophone of "pekes"
Tenant clutching bottle's last to come in again (2-5)	RE-ENTER	Definition: come in again [bottl]E in RENTER (tenant)
Extremely desperate copyists giving marks out (9)	DESCRIBES	Definition: marks out D[esperat]E + SCRIBES
Overlooking the very last pair, Nutmeg's almost useless (11)	IMPRACTICAL	Definition: useless I'M (Nutmeg is) + PRACTICAL[LY] (almost)
Collaborators make worst bombs (9)	WORKMATES	Definition: Collaborators (MAKE WORST)
Protective paper (8)	GUARDIAN	Definition: Protective Double definition
Compared with acquaintance in song (foreign) (7)	LIKENED	Definition: Compared KEN (acquaintance) in LIED (German for "song")
Ghastly appeal for sanctuary has nothing in it (7)	HIDEOUS	Definition: Ghastly O in HIDE US (as people might say when appealing for sanctuary)
Introduce trendy judge without filling court (6)	INJECT	Definition: Introduce IN + J[udg]E + CT
Nonconformist church raised cross — what's the point? (4)	CRUX	Definition: the point Reverse of U[nited] R[eformed] C[hurch] + X (cross)
Cryptically, how she runs home (9)	HOUSEWIFE	Definition: she runs home Not sure about this: I think the idea is that HOUSEWIFE is providing a cryptic indication of "how", but the best I can get is that it's HO and then you USE W[IFE]. I feel I must be missing something. (In Ximemes' book "The Art of the Crossword" he describes clueing HOUSEWIFE as an &lit: "I have plenty of time to stitch, then I iron" – HOU[R] + SEW + I FE – which is very clever, if rather showing its age.)*Thanks to Shirl: it's just that HOUSEWIFE = HOUSE + WIFE = HO + W = HOW.
Bare land here (5)	STRIP	Definition: Bare Double definition; bare as a verb, and strip as in landing strip
Free to go through again, retaining key (7)	RELIEVE	Definition: Free E (musical key) in RELIVE
Girl joining society left in first-class mess (7)	DEBACLE	Definition: mess DEB (a girl "joining society") + L in ACE
Tip: fill the gaps between 7 (5)	POINT	Definition: Tip Double definition – for the second, to point is to "fill the joints of (brickwork or masonry) with smoothly finished mortar"
Drool goes everywhere — he takes it on the chin (4,5)	GOOD LOSER	Definition: he takes it on the chin (DROOL GOES)
Users get authors to change one of their sources (6,9)	ROGET’S THESAURUS	Definition: one of their sources (USERS GET AUTHORS)
Yen increased, provided one invested and got smarter? (9)	YUPPIFIED	Definition: got smarter IF (provided) + I in Y UPPED
He dresses Mother and Child (5)	MASON	Definition: He dresses MA + SON; "dress" here is probably in the sense of "smooth the surface of (stone)", as a mason might do
Turner cherished small silver dish (7)	LASAGNA	Definition: dish S AG in LANA (Turner, actress)
Did nurse prepare Mark for weariness? (7)	BOREDOM	Definition: weariness BORE (nursed) + DO (prepare) + M
Fine chimney in Glasgow backs onto court (5)	MULCT	Definition: Fine Reverse of LUM (Scots word for chimney) +CT
Pass priest eating Northern Irish food (9)	COLCANNON	Definition: Irish food COL (mountain pass) + N in CANON
Insurance for Lib Dems? (5,5)	THIRD PARTY	Definition: Insurance Double definition
Mike secretly tackling the Italian racket in construction (8)	BUILDING	Definition: construction IL (Italian "the") DIN in BUG (to put a microphone or "mike" on secretly)
Bond writer comes into a little money (6)	CEMENT	Definition: Bond ME ("the writer") in CENT
Lost boring game? That's old hat (4)	TILE	Definition: old hat L[ost] in TIE (football match etc) – tile is an old-fashioned word for hat (as in the song: "Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile?")
Contest what bad pupils are told to do? (4-2-4)	HEAD-TO-HEAD	Definition: Contest Bad pupols might be sent to the headmaster, so told to HEAD TO [the] HEAD
Is Lincoln entirely standing up queen? (8)	ISABELLA	Definition: queen IS ABE + reverse of ALL. There have been a few queens called Isabella: perhaps the most famous is Isabella I of Castile, patron of Christopher Columbus

The old in retreat about say-so, uneasily indifferent (7)

EASY-OSY

Definition: indifferent SAYSO* in YE< – apparently a Scots expession according to some sources, though C. doesn't mark it as such

Fairy dance, right round the family fire? (7)

RINGLET

Definition: Fairy dance INGLE in RT

Keen on a selection of skin tones (4)

INTO

Definition: Keen on Hidden in skIN TOnes

Old Scotsman's deranged to compete at Klosters, one might suppose? (6)

SKIVIE

Definition: Old Scotsman's deranged SKI VIE (compete) – Klosters is a ski resort

Eat cored and mashed yam roots (5)

ETYMA

Definition: roots E[a]T + YAM* – plural of etymon, meaning the root meaning of a word

Some work round Mid-East, odd scene for what debs go through? (10)

EMERGENCES

Definition: what debs go through ME in ERG (unit of work) + SCENE*. Do debs still "come out", or would "..went through.." have been more accurate?

Shuffle back row organized to catch circling chaps (13)

REARRANGEMENT

Definition: Shuffle REAR (back [row]?) + RAN (organized) + MEN (chaps) in GET (catch). Rear can be "the back… of an army", which perhaps justifies "back row", or maybe I've misinterpreted this..

Meat coated in salt – it's hot and dry (6)

SHAMAL

Definition: it's hot and dry HAM in SAL – variant of "shimall", a hot, dry wind in the Middle East

Company deficit is not special – these are huge (7)

COLOSSI

Definition: these are huge CO + LOSS + IS less S[pecial]

——, it's time to relax – does it involve getting hammered? (11)

WORKING-OVER

Definition: does it involve getting hammered Double definition

Guinness from the brewery needed for impatient Irelanders? (6)

ENTIRE

Definition: Guinness from the brewery Hidden in impatiENT IRElanders – "port or stout as delivered from brewery": surely this needs as indication that it's a definition-by-example?

Jock's personal Parisian manikin (4)

NAIN

Definition: Jock's personal Double definition – 'nain' is French for 'dwarf', which is one of the definitions of 'manikin', which explains why the clue doesn't use the French spelling 'mannequin'

Arm (fin) to cover 'fair warrior' (6)

FINLAY

Definition: fair warrior FIN + LAY. I was worried about lay (as opposed to lay on) for cover, by Chambers gives it. The "Some first names" section of C. says that this name probably means "fair warrior"

Doctor uniquely curtailed on type of fibre (6)

DRALON

Definition: type of fibre DR + ALON[E]

His life's carefree. Alpine, perhaps (5)

RILEY

Definition: His life's carefree Double definition – to "live the life of Riley" is to be carefree, and the Riley Motor company made a car called the Alpine Tourer

Veg diet is varied for processing food (9)

DIGESTIVE

Definition: processing food (VEG DIET IS)

Man noted for his song, unaccompanied, this writer's French (7)

SOLOMON

Definition: Man noted for his song SOLO + MON (French "my", i.e. "this writer's") – reference to the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament

Core coat in aquatint images (6)

INTIMA

Definition: Core coat Another hidden: aquatINT IMAges

Carriage pin found in old pot (6)

TELEGA

Definition: Carriage LEG in TEA (marijuana, pot – Chambers says it's "old US slang")

Early flight for holiday destination, often (6)

GREECE

Definition: Early flight Double definition (an old word for a flight of stairs for the first)

Toil over painting e.g. eucalypt (6)

TEWART

Definition: eucalypt TEW (to toil – not "hew" as I guessed) + ART (of which a painting is an example)

River, rapid roller near battlefield, one in spate? (5)

RISER

Definition: one in spate R + ISER – variant spelling of the site of a WW1 battle, but I don't know what "rapid roller" is doing, unless it's an alternative indication, or two, of R, which seems unlikely

Ring of the bell? My hooter was lit, too (4)

DONG

Definition: Ring of the bell Double definition – reference to Edward Lear's "The Dong with a [not 'the', as I was convinced the title went] Luminous Nose", though I'm not sure what the "too" is doing

Extremely hairy Philistine reaches party in high spirits (5,2)

HYPED UP

Definition: in high spirits H[air]Y P[hilistin]E + DUP (political party)

In 26 without, say, a type of hat (4,3)

PORK PIE

Definition: a type of hat LIEGE without EG (say) is LIE, for which PORK PIE is rhyming slang; it's also a type of hat

Frenchman with money for second drink (5)

JULEP

Definition: drink JULES with S[econd] replaced by P[ence]

Rake one chap used in occupation (9)

LIBERTINE

Definition: Rake I BERT in LINE (occupation, as in "What's My Line")

Some lemon has HNO3 containing carbon instead of nitrogen (6,4)

CITRIC ACID

Definition: Some lemon NITRIC ACID (HNO3) with C instead of N, though "containing" is a bit inaccurate

Party without a break (4)

SNAP

Definition: break A in SNP (another political party)

Puzzling row about a cowshed (hint: suspect not English) (12)

LABYRINTHINE

Definition: Puzzling A BYR[E] + HINT* in LINE (another line, though with a different indication here)

Making holy doctors snort cocaine (12)

CONSECRATION

Definition: Making holy (SNORT COCAINE)

Broadcast fictions which give substance to soaps? (4)

LYES

Definition: substance to soaps Homophone of "lies" (fictions)

My crime? Sat around, being crooked (10)

ASYMMETRIC

Definition: crooked (MY CRIME SAT)

Journo backed definition that's undignified (9)

DEMEANING

Definition: undignified Reverse of ED + MEANING (definition)

Subject of story told by Georgia (5)

LIEGE

Definition: Subject LIE (another one) + GE (code for the country, not the US state)

Problem getting old Times supplement? (7)

SETBACK

Definition: Problem SET BACK is TES, abbreviation for the *Times Educational Supplement*, always known to teachers as the "Times Ed", which I see is now officially called just TES; no longer an actual supplement to the paper, hence the "old"

Go wrong injecting soft enzyme (7)

TRYPSIN

Definition: enzyme P (soft) in TRY (a go) SIN (wrong). Trypsin is secreted by the pancreas, and is involved in the digestion of proteins

"Hello, sailor" is appropriate, when moving (6)

HIJACK

Definition: appropriate, when moving Hello, sailor = HI, JACK

Devout former judge and governor (6)

PILATE

Definition: judge and governor PI (devout) + LATE (former)

Copies potential partners, keeping mostly upbeat? (10)

DUPLICATES

Definition: Copies UP + LIC[k] (to beat) in DATES

President leading a merry dance? (5)

POLKA

Definition: merry dance POLK (James K Polk, 11th president of the US) + A

"Biopic strewn with lust, not love" (Advertiser) (9)

PUBLICIST

Definition: Advertiser (BIOPIC LUST)* less O

Thin artist reluctantly eating starters (4)

RARE

Definition: Thin RA + R[eluctantly] E[ating]

Hook holding one black French dressing gown (8)

PEIGNOIR

Definition: dressing gown I in PEG + NOIR

Spared once seduced, when short of time (8)

EXEMPTED

Definition: Spared EX [T]EMPTED

City about right latitude for common sort of golf tournament (6,4)

STROKE PLAY

Definition: common sort of golf tournament R in STOKE (Stoke on Trent, which was granted City status in 1925) + PLAY (latitude)

Standard measures for ale? That's right (9)

YARDSTICK

Definition: Standard YARDS (measures of ale) + TICK (mark against a correct answer)

Stops only child Penny filling in part of crossword (8)

OCCLUDES

Definition: Stops O.C. + D (old penny) in CLUES

Stop for a time in Bury, meeting male having sex (8)

INTERMIT

Definition: Stop for a time INTER + M + IT (sex)

Topless match, with players from one side in shades (6)

GREENS

Definition: shades [A]GREE + NS (partners in Bridge)

Blind test? (6)

SCREEN

Definition: Blind Double definition

In power, May's tense (5)

MIGHT

Definition: power MIGHT is the past tense of "may"

Old man, twice party leader (4)

PAPA

Definition: Old man I presume this is PA[rty] twice, though it's a bit of a stretch as (singular) "party leader". *A much better explanation from Larry et al: it's PA (old man) twice, with definition "party leader", which is P = PAPA in the NATO phonetic alphabet (or possibly Papa Doc Duvalier, though I'm less convinced by that).

Position at end of battle after officer's retreat (6)

LOCATE

Definition: Position Reverse of COL[onel] + AT + [battl]E

Radical replacing agnostic's in charge, having an official staff (8)

SCEPTRED

Radical replacing agnostic's in charge, having an official staff (8) SCEPTIC (agnostic) with IC replaced by RED (a radical)

Second home of modest form, such as stoker uses (6)

SHOVEL

Definition: such as stoker uses S + HOVEL

Noble short crusade given God's protection (8)

MARQUESS

Definition: Noble QUES[T] in MARS

Wartime provision made by Disraeli — rather unorthodox (3-4,7)

AIR-RAID SHELTER

Definition: Wartime provision (DISRAELI RATHER)

Pious argument repelled all on aboard, you might say (10)

WORSHIPFUL

Definition: Pious Reverse of ROW (argumen) + SHIPFUL (all [on] aboard) – I think this would read better without the "on", so I suspect a typo or faulty editing

Larva eats root (4)

GRUB

Definition: Larva Triple defintion – I initially thought "eats" was redundant, but of course it's a slightly slangy word for "food"

River — harmful water source (4)

RILL

Definition: water source R + ILL

Decorative scrollwork details on limo (10)

CARTOUCHES

Definition: Decorative scrollwork CAR (limo) + TOUCHES (details)

Finding success, mother and knight agreed to differ (6,3,5)

MAKING THE GRADE

Definition: Finding success MA + (KNIGHT AGREED)

Leading couples refused to attend agency course (8)

TENDENCY

Definition: course [at]TEND [ag]ENCY

Very game old soldier returning punch (6)

VIGOUR

Definition: punch V + reverse of RU (Rugby Unon – game) +O + GI (soldier)

Deliberately furtive about online meeting? (8)

SEDATELY

Definition: Deliberately E-DATE in SLY

Colleges of yore catering for all (6)

UNISEX

Definition: catering for all UNIS + EX (former, "of yore")

Many turning tail never to be found (4)

LOST

Definition: never to be found LOTS with the last two letters ("tail") reversed

Episcopal staff from down under featured in Herald (7)

CROZIER

Definition: Episcopal staff OZ in CRIER

Divine government chief welcomed by people in general (8)

THEARCHY

Definition: Divine government ARCH (chief) in THEY (people in general)

Fireside repository of weird occult tales? (4,7)

COAL SCUTTLE

Definition: Fireside repository (OCCULT TALES)

Sound made by little dogs is irritating (6)

PIQUES

Definition: is irritating Homophone of "pekes"

Tenant clutching bottle's last to come in again (2-5)

RE-ENTER

Definition: come in again [bottl]E in RENTER (tenant)

Extremely desperate copyists giving marks out (9)

DESCRIBES

Definition: marks out D[esperat]E + SCRIBES

Overlooking the very last pair, Nutmeg's almost useless (11)

IMPRACTICAL

Definition: useless I'M (Nutmeg is) + PRACTICAL[LY] (almost)

Collaborators make worst bombs (9)

WORKMATES

Definition: Collaborators (MAKE WORST)

Protective paper (8)

GUARDIAN

Definition: Protective Double definition

Compared with acquaintance in song (foreign) (7)

LIKENED

Definition: Compared KEN (acquaintance) in LIED (German for "song")

Ghastly appeal for sanctuary has nothing in it (7)

HIDEOUS

Definition: Ghastly O in HIDE US (as people might say when appealing for sanctuary)

Introduce trendy judge without filling court (6)

INJECT

Definition: Introduce IN + J[udg]E + CT

Nonconformist church raised cross — what's the point? (4)

CRUX

Definition: the point Reverse of U[nited] R[eformed] C[hurch] + X (cross)

Cryptically, how she runs home (9)

HOUSEWIFE

Definition: she runs home Not sure about this: I think the idea is that HOUSEWIFE is providing a cryptic indication of "how", but the best I can get is that it's HO and then you USE W[IFE]. I feel I must be missing something. (In Ximemes' book "The Art of the Crossword" he describes clueing HOUSEWIFE as an &lit: "I have plenty of time to stitch, then I iron" – HOU[R] + SEW + I FE – which is very clever, if rather showing its age.)*Thanks to Shirl: it's just that HOUSEWIFE = HOUSE + WIFE = HO + W = HOW.

Bare land here (5)

STRIP

Definition: Bare Double definition; bare as a verb, and strip as in landing strip

Free to go through again, retaining key (7)

RELIEVE

Definition: Free E (musical key) in RELIVE

Girl joining society left in first-class mess (7)

DEBACLE

Definition: mess DEB (a girl "joining society") + L in ACE

Tip: fill the gaps between 7 (5)

POINT

Definition: Tip Double definition – for the second, to point is to "fill the joints of (brickwork or masonry) with smoothly finished mortar"

Drool goes everywhere — he takes it on the chin (4,5)

GOOD LOSER

Definition: he takes it on the chin (DROOL GOES)

Users get authors to change one of their sources (6,9)

ROGET’S THESAURUS

Definition: one of their sources (USERS GET AUTHORS)

Yen increased, provided one invested and got smarter? (9)

YUPPIFIED

Definition: got smarter IF (provided) + I in Y UPPED

He dresses Mother and Child (5)

MASON

Definition: He dresses MA + SON; "dress" here is probably in the sense of "smooth the surface of (stone)", as a mason might do

Turner cherished small silver dish (7)

LASAGNA

Definition: dish S AG in LANA (Turner, actress)

Did nurse prepare Mark for weariness? (7)

BOREDOM

Definition: weariness BORE (nursed) + DO (prepare) + M

Fine chimney in Glasgow backs onto court (5)

MULCT

Definition: Fine Reverse of LUM (Scots word for chimney) +CT

Pass priest eating Northern Irish food (9)

COLCANNON

Definition: Irish food COL (mountain pass) + N in CANON

Insurance for Lib Dems? (5,5)

THIRD PARTY

Definition: Insurance Double definition

Mike secretly tackling the Italian racket in construction (8)

BUILDING

Definition: construction IL (Italian "the") DIN in BUG (to put a microphone or "mike" on secretly)

Bond writer comes into a little money (6)

CEMENT

Definition: Bond ME ("the writer") in CENT

Lost boring game? That's old hat (4)

TILE

Definition: old hat L[ost] in TIE (football match etc) – tile is an old-fashioned word for hat (as in the song: "Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile?")

Contest what bad pupils are told to do? (4-2-4)

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Definition: Contest Bad pupols might be sent to the headmaster, so told to HEAD TO [the] HEAD

Is Lincoln entirely standing up queen? (8)

ISABELLA

Definition: queen IS ABE + reverse of ALL. There have been a few queens called Isabella: perhaps the most famous is Isabella I of Castile, patron of Christopher Columbus