Crossword

2301: Age of extremes

Eight unclued lights are of a kind; the remaining two complete four words from a quote, which is appropriately positioned and must be highlighted.   Across 12    Old noble returning 50 eggs (4) 13    See adult in Moroni, perhaps, as this? (8) 14    Confusion restrained in mediocre way to play (9) 15    Latin on air

2300: The law

Each of ten clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. Extras in Across clues spell a definition of three unclued lights, and extras in Down clues spell a definition of three unclued lights; these definitions combine to spell a definition of three unclued lights.  

2299: Pieces of Eight

One unclued light is the origin of the remaining unclued lights (three of two words), individually or as a pair.   Across 4    Stagnation’s the making of these adversaries (11) 11    It’s for refreshment in moderation — there’s no din (7) 12    Reptile from southern-most headland (6) 13    Nut lovers’ collection in Laurel’s birthplace (9)

2298: NOᴎ

The unclued lights (one of two words), correctly paired, are of a kind and are defective in the same way. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.   Across 1    Indecision of poet shortly to tour America (8) 5    A band restrains it likewise (6, two words) 14    Judge half a fool (3) 16    Shrewd to capture rook

2297: Thoroughly

Each of nine clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell a two-word phrase. Clues in italics are cryptic indications of partial answers; in each case, the indicated part must be placed as suggested by the thematic phrase to create the full answer to be entered in the grid. Resulting

2296: Men of note

The unclued lights, which include the German eighth, are of a kind. Ignore all accents.   Across 1    Lines fish in strips (8) 6    Dads receiving trophy before drinks (6) 10    Being against work place on outskirts of Arundel (12) 11    Children are a bone of contention (5) 17    Sentence lout over pinching high-class rescue

2295: Juicy

An unclued light is a name shared by two persons, one of whom is fictional. Remaining unclued lights give names connected with one or other of these persons. Solvers must shade the shared name. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe and two accents.   Across 1    High combe wingless fly’s sent up (8) 5    Rush job (6)

2294: Times Square

Six words (one with American spelling) read clockwise in sequence round the perimeter. Each of seventeen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell a two-word definition of the perimeter words. Letters in corner squares and those adjacent to them could make STEPS

2293: Topping

The unclued lights (one of two words and one hyphened) are of a kind, all verifiable in Chambers.   Across 4    Night-flier in gear (11, two words) 11    Fancy pictures from one publication with topless sequences (9) 14    City faraway from Helsinki, evidently (4) 15    Aunt Sally is retiring (3) 18    Dropping openers, new eleven win

Discovery

Two pairs of unclued lights are theme names. Remaining unclued lights aren’t in themselves thematic, but their unchecked letters complete a book title, and part of its sub-title, in two symmetrically placed, curving lines reading down. Both phrases are (14, three words) and need highlighting. The ODE confirms 19, 28, and 43.   Across 6   

2291: Seriously?

In ten clues, the wordplay omits one of the letters of the solution. These letters in the grid, read row by row, complete the missing two words of an 11-word quotation (in the ODQ) given by five unclued entries. The other unclued entries give the name of the speaker. If these same letters in the

2290: Timely II

Clockwise round the grid from 11 run three trios (8,4,6,5,9,3,5,8,4), each trio combining to suggest the same word. A trio of unclued lights combine to give a relevant activity (hyphened) and the remaining unclued light gives a relevant name verifiable in Brewer.   Across 9    Hat to be pleased with resembling a boater (10) 13   

Festive features

99 (five words) and 20 (four words), whose 37 were 61 (two words) and 35D (two words), are seasonal 53 featuring the 78 whose name is formed by two unclued lights. Two unclued lights (of two words each) are the names of the 78’s 68D. In nine clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of

2289: I don’t believe it!

The unclued lights, as a singleton and four pairs with one unclued light doing double duty, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Two of the unclued lights are of three words, one including an abbreviation. All but one of the remaining unclued lights are of two words. Ignore two apostrophes.   Across 10   

2288: Housey-housey

The unclued lights (ignore two apostrophes and an umlaut) are of a kind, as verified in Brewer.   Across 1    Seating right up to date (5, two words) 6    Run off book in a moment, not English (7) 11    Learner chews roach sadly (10, hyphened) 15    Shortly irritate returning US politician (4) 16    Bill interprets old fears

2287: Quarry

In eight clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal a word that defines each of the unclued lights. Two unclued lights consist of two words each.   Across 1    Quiet exercises by expert (5) 9    Locusts, very large, after jelly and syrup (10) 11

2286: B

The unclued lights are of a kind. Ignore one grave accent.   Across   1    Hails a picador, awfully exciting (13) 11    Difficult child had fun playing close to school (7) 12    Father has undone Turk’s head (5) 14    As You Like It — a piece of theatre by Shakespeare (6, two words) 16    Peg

2285: Characterful

Unclued lights are three groups of three words of a kind, each group relating differently to a theme word. This theme word appears in the grid (8 letters, reading across) translated into the appropriate language and must be highlighted. The unchecked and cross-checking letters in the nine theme words are DARN HANDSOMELY arranged.   Across

2284: Shocking!

Unclued lights consist of a quotation (in ODQ), its speaker and source, and a synonym (one hyphened) of each of its three words. Its author appears in the grid and must be shaded.   Across 1    Excel as old Greek character among women (11) 11    Cable runs past part of bow (6) 13    Look in

2283: Be damned

The unclued lights (one of two words, one of three and-another of four components) are of a kind. Chambers gives only a cognate of the solution at 7 Down.   Across 9    River in middle of West Bank city (4) 11    Seafarer of marked individuality, but primitive (10) 12    Clear illustration includes appendage of seed