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Roman Cato lambasted dismissing a Caesar maybe (8) | MONOCRAT | Definition: Caesar maybe
Anagram of ROMAN CATO less one A |
Foreign script shown by a single vellum, but not on edging? (5) | NESKI | Definition: Foreign script
[O]NE SKI[N] |
Any round stone one's turned over, aspiring to be creative (5) | ARTSY | Definition: aspiring to be creative
Reverse of ST in ARY (any) |
Caught lilting chant about old serf? It's played with hands (11) | CATCH-THE-TEN | Definition: It's played with hands
C + THETE (serf) in CHANT |
Like enthusiastic Ibrox fans, sounding like a Stewart? (6) | ROARIE | Definition: Like enthusiastic Ibrox fans
Homophone of Rory [Stewart], formerly a Conservative MP, now independent since Boris Johnson's purge of 21 MPs who voted against the Government |
Ancient curse dominating early part of Tannhäuser (for Wagner's character) (5) | WOTAN | Definition: Wagner's character
WO (old form of woe = curse) + TAN – rather vague by Azed's standards for "early part of Tannhäuser". Wotan (a German version of the name Odin) is the king of the gods in Wagner's Ring cycle |
Small heraldic band having complexity round radius (7) | TRANGLE | Definition: Small heraldic band
R in TANGLE |
Shakespearean director wanting RU team in Madrid? (6) | QUINCE | Definition: Shakespearean director
QUINCE is Spanish for 15, the number of players in a Rugby union team; and Peter Quince directs the Mechanicals' play in *A Midsummer Night's Dream |
Club wastes away, cutting rates (4) | MACE | Definition: Club
MACE[RATES] |
One over-keen on the drink has a swim with nothing on (5) | DIPSO | Definition: One over-keen on the drink
DIPS (swims) + O |
Plant family, one with odd features of cherry (4) | ACER | Definition: Plant family
A + alternate letters of ChErRy. Acer is the Maple genus |
Society in the US paraded unrestrainedly in Indian silk (6) | TUSSEH | Definition: Indian silk
S in (THE US) |
Polish, weird, introducing former German currency shortly (5) | EMERY | Definition: Polish
M[ark] in EERY |
Thus you may see dry seed slip all over the place (11) | DISPERSEDLY | Definition: Thus you may see dry seed slip all over the place
(DRY SEED SLIP)* &lit |
Director modified set before run (7) | STEERER | Definition: Director
SET* + ERE R |
Plains? Special follows just after the lot coming up (6) | LLANOS | Definition: Plains
Reverse of S[pecial] ON (just after) + ALL (the lot) |
Like victim of Heracles, one topped with shaggy mane (6) | NEMEAN | Definition: Like victim of Heracles
ONE "topped", i.e. less its first letter + MANE*. I originally thought Azed had slipped up here, intending MANE* + AN. Killing the Nemean Lion was the first of the Labours of Heracles (aka Hercules) |
Logs, number among chopped trees (6) | ENTERS | Definition: Logs
N in TREES |
Corded bead: Jamie cuts one hollowed out (5) | OJIME | Definition: Corded bead
Another "ONE", this time "hollowed out" and containing another variant of James, namely JIM |
Spinach run out (short)? Cooks snip this maybe (5) | ORACH | Definition: this
Composite anagram &lit: (SNIP ORACH)* = SPINACH + RO (cricketing abbreviation for "run out"); orach is "sometimes used as Spinach is |
Drunk rolled over in a bit of a kip, leaning somewhat (5) | ATILT | Definition: leaning somewhat
Reverse of LIT (drunk) in AT (Laotian money, one-hundredth of a kip) |
Fill tank till spilling out for Scottish sheep-pen (4) | FANK | Definition: Scottish sheep-pen
FILL TANK less TILL*. I learned this word many years ago through my Scottish sheep-farming stepfather |
Behind sound of Irish song, London initially put out (8) | DERRIERE | Definition: Behind
Homophone of "[London]derry Air" |
English are heard repeatedly admitting old mistake (5) | ERROR | Definition: mistake
E + O in 3 times R (homophone of "are") |
Some industriousness is needed for today's theme, for instance (4) | TRIO | Definition: today's theme, for instance
Hidden in indusTRIOusness |
Interpreted, we hear, sign that woman's married? Misleading clue! (3,7) | RED HERRING | Definition: Misleading clue
Yet another homophone, of "read" (interpreted) + HER RING (which may show a woman is married) |
Corrupt dealer has something worn at table hiding king and queen (6) | BRIBER | Definition: Corrupt dealer
R (king) in BIB + ER (the Queen) |
School backed legal action — there's usually money in it (8) | NOTECASE | Definition: there's usually money in it
Reverse of ETON (school) + CASE (legal action) |
Tenacious pursuer's blunder, entering bank (7) | TERRIER | Definition: Tenacious pursuer
ERR (to blunder) in TIER (bank) |
Source of marble artists placed on vehicle (7) | CARRARA | Definition: Source of marble
CAR (vehicle) + twice RA (artist). Carrara is an Italian city famous for its marble |
More stylish going over line, one who finishes nicely? (8) | POLISHER | Definition: one who finishes nicely
L I in POSHER |
Use fan improperly, creating hazard (6) | UNSAFE | Definition: creating hazard
(USE FAN) |
Reckoning that I must be involved with crime (10) | ARITHMETIC | Definition: Reckoning
(THAT I CRIME) |
British educational foundation's reaction to freeze? (4) | BRRR | Definition: reaction to freeze
B + RRR (the 3 Rs, supposedly the foundation of education) |
In summer are roasts not cooked as much? (5) | RARER | Definition: not cooked as much
Hidden in summeR ARE Roasts |
More like canal boat, quickly moved around with oar (8) | NARROWER | Definition: More like canal boat
Reverse of RAN quicly moved) + ROWER (oar). Canal boats are often called narrowboats |
Confused restorer turned back (8) | RETRORSE | Definition: turned back
RESTORER* – retrorse is used in biology to describe something bent backward or downward |
Vigour from writer after change of heart (4) | BRIO | Definition: Vigour
BIRO (pen, writer) with its "heart" reversed |
Dread it disappearing from territory no end (6) | TERROR | Definition: Dread
TERRITORY less IT and its last letter |
Being a student in university city (7) | READING | Definition: Being a student
Double definition, though in fact Reading (Berkshire) is not a city. There are several US cities called Reading, so by separating "university" and "city" you could read it as a triple definition |
Detain me improperly, making problem for head (8) | DEMENTIA | Definition: problem for head
(DETAIN ME) |
Eg tapes in advance piano note repeated on strings (3-7) | PRE‑RECORDS | Definition: Eg tapes in advance
P[iano] + RE + RE (notes) + CORDS (strings) |
Managed university in America, part of the system we're in (6) | URANUS | Definition: part of the system we're in
RAN U in US. Uranus is part of the Solar System |
Defenders sometimes put obstructions across street (10) | BARRISTERS | Definition: Defenders sometimes
ST[reet] in BARRIERS |
They yield short-term interest, showing edge in record time (8) | EPHEMERA | Definition: They yield short-term interest
HEM (edge) in EP (record) + ERA (time) |
Concerning previous person trying to fix things (8) | REFORMER | Definition: person trying to fix things
RE (concerning) + FORMER (previous) |
Making corrections in speech or text (7) | WRITING | Definition: text
Homophone of "righting" |
Unknown to mathematicians, supporting awful 9 in astronomical model (6) | ORRERY | Definition: astronomical model
Anagram of ERROR (answer to 9a) + Y (mathematical unknown). An orrery is a mechanical model of the Solar System |
Open bottle containing a French port (6) | UNCORK | Definition: Open bottle
UN (French "a") + CORK (Irish port). "Containing" in the sense "consisting of" |
A piece of 4 or 19 youth's not completed satisfactorily (4) | BOOK | Definition: A piece of 4 or 19
An uncompleted BO[y] + OK (satisfactorily, as in "it worked OK") |
Travelling people after a bouquet (5) | AROMA | Definition: bouquet
A + ROMA |
Sweat embarrassingly in a tuxedo? (9) | EXUDATION | Definition: Sweat
(IN A TUXEDO) |
Conservative party member demanding vessel (9) | HARDLINER | Definition: Conservative party member
HARD (demanding) + LINER (vessel). The definition refers to a conservative member of a party rather than a member of the Conservative party |
Mad freebooter relinquishing power (5) | IRATE | Definition: Mad
PIRATE less P |
Mate in Sydney holding large hammer (7) | CLOBBER | Definition: hammer
L in COBBER. Do Australians still call each other "cobber"? Did they ever? |
Stray has accommodation in which there's no time to relax (7) | DIGRESS | Definition: Stray
REST less T in DIGS |
Pick up article in valley (5) | GLEAN | Definition: Pick up
A (indefinite article) in GLEN (valley, usually in Scotland) |
Clutch component, say, coming closer (3) | EGG | Definition: Clutch component
E.G. (Say) + the "closer" of cominG |
King of Mercia primarily laying waste (5) | OFFAL | Definition: waste
OFFA (King of Mercia 757-796, famous for his dyke) + L[aying] |
Determination to complete the crossword again? (7) | RESOLVE | Definition: Determination
RE-SOLVE |
Missionary position in middle of Wales (7) | APOSTLE | Definition: Missionary
POST (position) in [w]ALE[s] |
Fiddle with French car that's dropping back (5) | FRAUD | Definition: Fiddle
FR + AUD[I] |
Beginners from Oxford University set off in boat (9) | OUTRIGGER | Definition: boat
First letters of Oxford University + TRIGGER (set off) |
Cast is so grand for directors (4,5) | ROAD SIGNS | Definition: directors
(IS SO GRAND) |
Attentive dealer taking part (5) | ALERT | Definition: Attentive
Part of, i.e. hidden in, deALER Taking |
Party for 13 across (4) | BASH | Definition: Party
Double definition |
Golf match involving more of us (8) | FOURSOME | Definition: Golf match
(MORE OF US) |
Fit, we hear, for a drop of the hard stuff? (4) | HAIL | Definition: a drop of the hard stuff
Homophone of "hale" (fit) |
Ewe turns out to be supplier of milk (3,5) | WET NURSE | Definition: supplier of milk
(EWE TURNS) |
Rotten place requiring short journey (6) | PUTRID | Definition: Rotten
PUT (to place) + RID[E] |
Gung-ho gunners encircle country in Africa (6,2,2) | RARING TO GO | Definition: Gung-ho
RA (Royal Artillery, funners + RING + TOGO |
Angry outburst from one stuck in traffic (6) | TIRADE | Definition: Angry outburst
I in TRADE |
Old queen with no love for a new one (4) | ANNE | Definition: Old queen
A + N + ONE less O (zero, love) |
26 down, say, holding Joe up in Havana? (5) | CIGAR | Definition: Havana
Reverse of GI in CAR (of which a Ford is an example) |
Land makes outlaw happy and he's reformed (10) | BANGLADESH | Definition: Land
BAN + GLAD + HES |
3 for Roman healer (5) | SALVE | Definition: 3 for Roman
Double definition – it's Latin for "hail " or "welcome" |
Titanic female at sea, as gent is (8) | GIANTESS | Definition: Titanic female
(AS GENT IS) |
Corpulent guide, terribly weary (8) | FATIGUED | Definition: weary
FAT +GUIDE |
Central bank supporting false medicine man (6) | SHAMAN | Definition: medicine man
SHAM (false) + [b]AN[k] |
One hug, possibly as good as a feast? (6) | ENOUGH | Definition: as good as a feast
(ONE HUG)*, referring tp the saying "enough is as good as a feast" |
Where one goes from bank to bank to get a bit of dosh (4) | FORD | Definition: Where one goes from bank to bank
FOR (to get, as in "I'm going to the shops for milk") + D[osh] |
My word is annoying you at first (1,3) | I SAY | Definition: My word
IS + first letters of Annoying You |
Legal documents, reportedly, for Swiss hotelier (4) | RITZ | Definition: Swiss hotelier
Homophone if "writs". The Ritz hotels in Paris and London were set up by César Ritz, who was born in Switzerland |
Leafstalk trailing river duck (7) | POCHARD | Definition: duck
PO (Italian river) + CHARD (vegetable with edible stalks) |
Self-important holy one's going after fair return (7) | POMPOUS | Definition: Self-important
Reverse of MOP (dialect word for a hiring fair) + PIOUS less I |
Talk arrogantly to others from an illusory mount? (3,2,4,4,5) | GET ON ONE’S HIGH HORSE | Definition: Talk arrogantly to others from an illusory mount
Just a rather long-winded cryptic definition, I think |
Motion was altered drastically to cover gold (9) | LAUREATED | Definition: Motion was
AU in ALTERED* – reference to Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate |
Marker makes toenail red (10) | DELINEATOR | Definition: Marker
(TOENAIL RED) |
Pepper restricted by winter's perseverance (11) | INTERSPERSE | Definition: Pepper
Hidden in wINTER'S PERSEverance |
One form of ancient hut not in tune with Sartre's philosophy? (11) | INAUTHENTIC | Definition: not in tune with Sartre's philosophy
I + (ANCIENT HUT)* – authenticity is the "primary virtue" of Existentialism, associated with Jean-Paul Sartre |
Refusing to change opinion of university, Wayne Slob, a mess, drops round (10) | UNSWAYABLE | Definition: Refusing to change opinion
Anagram of U + WAYNE SLOB, less "O". For those not familiar with the name, Wayne Slob is a character portrayed by Harry Enfield |
One supplying air when tennis player gets colour back (9) | SERENADER | Definition: One supplying air
SERENA (Williams) + reverse of RED, with the "air" being a song |
Call up the day before about ball and whip (7) | EVOCATE | Definition: Call up
O (ball) + CAT (whip) in EVE |
Case of senior overcome by auditorium (7) | HOLDALL | Definition: Case
OLD in HALL |
A party opening up a temple (6) | PAGODA | Definition: a temple
Reverse of A DO GAP |
Swimmer dislodges top from sink (6) | CUTTLE | Definition: Swimmer
[S]CUTTLE – the creature (a mollusc) more commonly known as the cuttlefish, the source of both cuttlebone and the pigment sepia |
Declare sadly a tunic's been appropriated by old queen (10) | ANNUNCIATE | Definition: Declare
(A TUNIC)* in [Queen] ANNE |
Party line taken with state dish (5) | DOLMA | Definition: dish
DO + L + MA (Massachusetts). Dolma is a family of stuffed dishes, often seen (as Dolmades) in Greek cuisine as stuffed vine leaves |
God starts to create really awful, terrifyingly rich man (9) | PLUTOCRAT | Definition: rich man
PLUTO (god) + first letters of Create Really Awful Terrifyingly |
Look out, Emin! (4) | MIEN | Definition: Look
EMIN |
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