Crossword

2114: MMCXIV/CCCII

The unclued lights (two of three and one of two words), when preceded by the same word which solvers must include along with their completed grid, can be verified in Brewer.   Across   9    Small cafe spoken of in ski-lift (4, hyphened) 11    Computer functions ’til a server crashes (10) 16   

2113: Recycling

Twenty 9-letter items form a circular chain in which each item recycles eight of its letters into the next one. Eight of the items are unclued entries, seven are words which must be removed from clues before they can be solved, and five are thematic items. One of the thematic items and one of the

2112: Refer

Each of sixteen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell two words. Solvers who refer to Chambers will find, in the definitions of these words, a word that describes each of the unclued lights. This word, concealed in the grid, must be

2111: Father figures

When paired, the unclued lights (one hyphened) are of a kind. Ignore two accents. (The solution at 15D is not listed in Chambers and that at 36D only at its definition.)   Across 3    Global popularity of a lecturer in Keele, say (12) 13    Covered pathways badly made inside, unfortunately (8) 18   

2110: Resort

Unclued lights could be resorted to form eight of a kind.   Across 6 Here and there scratch top NCO round stomach (6) 11 Half note maidenly shape within a type of sheath (10) 13 Image of a German holding digging stick (5) 14 Centres with smogs district medical officer visits (8) 16 Staff in

2109: Not Quite 50 Shades

Unclued lights (including three of two words and one of three words) are four people connected by the 11A and four partial representations of their works (minus definite articles); solvers must complete each representation by shading the whole light appropriately. Ignore two apostrophes.   Across 1 Correct direction by board with head for commercial quality

2108: Capital fellows

The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in an entry in Brewer. Solvers are required to highlight an eight-letter headword from this entry in the completed grid. Elsewhere, ignore all accents.   Across 8 Tax break (4) 12 Clamour of duchy near to collapse (9, three words) 14 Name-board of excellent eatery cut back

2107: Problem X

18 (two words) will know that where ‘Q’ = ‘the number of’: Q1D x ([Q5A x Q37/35] – Q11/42) x Q22 = Q the 19. Elsewhere, ignore four accents.   Across 1 Glitches involving a thousand aircraft (6) 10 Relationship of rhino and fox with earache, gent treated (14, three words) 13 Mysteries of anonymous

2106: 30/3

30 3 is a definition of one unclued light (which 34 follows) and also a cryptic indication of 16A. 34 is marked by the holder of the 16A with a 40. One unclued light is the name of the 40, and one is the name of the holder of the 16A. One of these lights

2105: Idle

A trio of unclued lights (four words, one with an apostrophe) gave rise to another trio found in four further unclued lights (eight words in total), all of which featured the two remaining unclued lights.   Across 1 Suspect fine spray having corrosion (8) 9 Assessment of arrangement of a tune and a viol (10)

2104: Shock treatment

Five unclued lights make up a six-word quotation (verifiable in ODQ) by an author whose name must be highlighted in the grid. Remaining unclued lights, all real words in Chambers, each begin with a word suggested by the first two words of the quotation. Ignore two accents and one apostrophe.    Across   1       

2103: Rime

Unclued entries are words or phrases whose meanings are not connected, but they are determined by the appearance in the grid of the last two lines of a poem, one word to each row. The first two lines of the poem appear in fourteen clues, whose answers do not touch the quotation in the grid,

2102: Full circle

Four pairs of unclued lights (5,5) represent their solutions and together equal the remaining trio of unclued lights.   Across 5 Student of mental disorders or ufos? (8) 10 Relative from BR or ER, apparently (11, hyphened) 11 Doctor’s verdict, a dosing is in order (9) 12 Deal with work in church (4) 17 Composer

2101: Hewn vaguely

Unclued across lights combine with down ones to form anagrams of four works (one of four words, one of three and two of two) from the same nd. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.   Across 7 Shaman’s inexpert (3) 11 Mary Jane hugs arriving amazon? (6) 13 Withdraw from dramatist, being cause of misery (7) 15

2100: Mask

Each of eighteen clues contains one misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell a four-word phrase which alludes to the unclued lights, indicating the position of one of them in relation to the others. One unclued light is  hyphened; elsewhere, ignore an accent.   Across 1 Neat section, last of four in

2099: Lover’s Knot

The unclued lights are presented in the form of the Lover’s Knots below. Each ‘Knot’ can be unravelled into two words which are connected only for the purposes of this puzzle. These are then to be entered in the grid, always as pairs of consecutive lights.   LOVER’S KNOT CLUES a) A thin bride b)

2098: Song IX

Four unclued lights might justly sing ‘4D/18/13’ (five words in total). A relevant pair of clued lights must be shaded.   Across 10    European secretes strange smeary enzyme (10) 11    Botanical description half recorded by child (6) 12    Big browser nibbled wood sorrel for pudding (7) 14    Welshman that is backing Nauru (5) 15    

2097: Spaced

In each of 14 clues, the cryptic indication omits reference to one letter of the answer.  These letters must be highlighted, to reveal the name of someone who has had a number of 43, some of which are unclued lights, individually or paired.  Each of the remaining clues comprises a definition part and a hidden

2096: New World Symphony

The unclued lights (two of two words and the remainder when paired) are of a specific kind.   Across 1 Kind, like 7A (11, hyphened) 7 Well-spaced to start with (3) 13 Mate with old cattle causing fuss (7) 15 Singer losing nothing in outskirts of Mellieha – here! (5) 17 Money expended swapping model

Christmas crossword winners

The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the Chambers Crossword Dictionary are awarded to the following. The first four prizewinners will, in addition, each receive a bottle of champagne.   First prize Seamus McNeill, Belfast   Runners-up Ms H. Piper, Chessington, Surrey; Sue Topham, Elston, Newark; Rhidian Llewellyn,