Crossword

2084: The here and now

Part of a literary work (13 words) goes clockwise around the perimeter starting from square 1. Remaining unclued lights are anagrams of five words which make up a key image from the work. Letters in the twenty unchecked perimeter squares could give: DIT WHERE I CHIDE and SEDUCE. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe. Across 10 One

2083: Groundless

Unclued entries (all real words) are not thematic unless they are augmented, in each case by a letter appearing in an appropriate place in the grid.  The solutions at 6, 19, 29 and 40 are confirmed in the OED. Across 1 Marine plant-life treated as grass by duck (8) 8 Measure lack of aspiration shown

2082: 1 to 2082

The unclued lights (one of two words, one of which is an abbreviation) are of kind and between them go back to number 1. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 3    Simple meal obtained from shady dung pit (12, two words) 10    To hear’s what is involved here (7) 11    Former student adapting

2081: Four of each | 19 September 2012

Each of five unclued lights (one hyphened) must be 28 in a 2 way. Across 1    Naked German cuts elbow (5) 9    Fresh treatment of sick darling hen (10) 11    Chap twisted limb batting (5) 12    City in ravine colonel captured (7) 14    Dance with athletic Zulu round Lithuania (5) 15    Coed developed constant signal

2080: Players

Each of twenty-one definitions contains one misprinted letter. Corrections of misprints spell two items of the same kind as the unclued lights. Two unclued lights consist of two words each. Across 1      Visits made by guys (5) 9      Bearers of nominal offices in knots about strange ritual (10) 11     Scrape

2079: Prepared for rain

One clued light is suitably dressed having taken notice of the title. By extension, all the unclued lights would be, if they took the same precaution (and would then be confirmed in Chambers). Ignore two accents. Across 7      US battle giving quiet backing to spring festival (6) 12    Dava Sobel’s novel is

2077: Below par

Each of seventeen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. The extras spell the first four words of a saying (in ODQ). The remaining seven words of the saying are supplied by 37 of the puzzle’s clues. Solvers must highlight a concealed item (six letters)

2076: Carte blanche

The crossword is of the usual barred pattern and is symmetrical whichever side is uppermost. The Across clues are presented in order and precede the Down clues. Three solutions are hyphened, and one is of three words. Solvers are required to  insert the bars; clue-numbers are not required. — Former Foreign office abroad revealed in

2075: An outstanding idea

45/11 (seven words) is part of a quotation (in ODQ7) from 13/34D. Remaining unclued lights, all real words in Chambers, must be filled to display two items for which the quotation is entirely inappropriate. Collins confirms 6A. Across 1    Grouchy papalist speaking (4) 6    Intimidate French socialists with touchy bent (8, two words) 12    Playing

2074: Capital punishment

Six unclued lights are synonymous with one unclued light which, according to a quotation in ODQ, is 38 43 (five words).  The key light is integral to the name of the quotation’s author, which must be highlighted. Across 1     Boats, bad in parts, seem abandoned (14, two words) 9     Joke about current revelry

2073: Yonkers bonkers

The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as a pair, are of a kind. Solvers are called upon to highlight another unclued light which forms three quarters of a clued solution. Across 11 Scribbled notes recalling fine state (7) 12 Continue with drama with small jackets (6) 14 Starkey’s pair of spectacles? (5)

Crossword Solution to 2069: Yes and no

The TITLE (36) gives WORDS (34) that, if combined, ANAGRAMMATISED (42) and suffixed to DUMP, defined by 7, 10, 12 and 22, produce the PSEUDONYM (8) ‘Dumpynose’. DUMP appears in the fifth row of the grid and was to be shaded. First prize Annabel Gaba, London NW6 Runners-up Charles Hastings, Upper Woolhampton;  Lucy Mo, Withington,

2072: Pediculi

‘1A (four words)!’ is a quotation suggesting the link between the other seven unclued lights (all real words). The domain of the screamer is a clued light and must be shaded. Across 11 Ailing I lie abed a couple of times and weaken (10) 14 Suit Australian stored in home county (6) 17 Student wrenched

Solution to 2068: Hard case

‘ALAS, POOR YORICK’ (4) is an utterance by HAMLET on discovering the SKULL of the JESTER (11).  Six unclued lights are features of a skull. First prize Susan Tims, Sutton Coldfield Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; Mike Underwood, Auvillar, France

Crossword 2071: 14-7

Each of twenty-four clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell five words identifying an event, which could result in 14 7. Another possible result is given by the lights symmetrically opposite to 14 7. Definitions of the components of these results are

Crossword 2067 solution

The across unclued lights are MORRIS marques and the down unclued lights are AUSTIN ones. The title is an anagram of AUSTIN and MORRIS. (Bullnose at 26 Down was a Morris marque, hence the wording in the clue — ‘misplaced’ as a Down solution instead of Across.) First prize Chris Butler, Borough Green, Kent Runners-up

Crossword 2070: Nothing special

The unclued lights (three of two words), individually or ‘19D’, are of a kind, represented in Brewer. Ignore all accents. Across 1       Buy a shirt? It’d be wrong for such appearance (12, two words) 10     Not supporting one with sex appeal, on reflection (4) 14     Material salesman (3) 15     Reserve

Crossword 2066 solution

The ten unclued lights were all types of ants and were therefore defined by 7D. First prize B. Taylor, Bolton Runners-up Neville Twickel, Shipston-on-Stour, Warks; M. O’Hanlon, North Berwick, Scotland

Crossword 2069: Yes and no

The 36 gives 34 that, if combined, 42 and suffixed to the word defined by each of 7, 10, 12 and 22, produce a 8. The defined word appears hidden in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1    Parties have a nap then start Olympic event (14, four words)

Crossword 2065 solution

AND could be found in the grid connecting NAME & ADDRESS, HERO & LEANDER, and BANGERS & MASH, so 19 and 21 were connected by THE and had to be GOD SAVE and KING. First prize P.L. Macdougall, London SW6 Runners-up Roderick Burgess, Cantsfield, Canforth, Lancs; Sheelagh Abbots, Chirk, Wrexham