The final puzzle in a very long run from Quixote, who will now make appearances in the daily Independent. Thanks to him for so many sound and accessible puzzles.
| Across | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DURESS | Outside university prepare for threats U = university; DRESS = prepare |
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| 4 | DIRECTOR | I had backed minister, as one of the bosses DI = I’d, reversed; RECTOR = minister |
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| 9 | SO FAR | Female in the ascent up to now F = female; SOAR = ascent (not given as a noun in Chambers, though) |
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| 10 | PROMISING | I perform as musician at end of concert, as an up-and-coming artist? PROM = concert; I SING |
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| 11 | ISTHMUS | Land with sea either side – this ground mostly soft pulpy stuff? *(this); MUS[h] |
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| 12 | ANTIGEN | Biological substance with which lady ensnares cat without tail ANN = woman’s name; TIGE[r] |
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| 13 | CORRELATION | Connection made with member of family getting expression of surprise at first COR = expression of surprise; RELATION = member of family |
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| 17 | GREEN KEEPER | Groundsman, inexperienced fellow on the cricket field? GREEN = inexperienced; [wicket]KEEPER |
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| 20 | TIP-CART | One policeman that’s keen to get around in vehicle I PC = one policeman; TART = keen. A cart emptied by being tilted up |
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| 21 | SPLIT UP | Separated, without children, and animated SP = without children (sine prole); LIT UP = animated |
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| 23 | MARTINMAS | Flaw with matins arranged for saint’s day MAR = flaw (which can be a verb); *(matins) |
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| 24 | LIEGE | The province of sovereign or subject Double definition — the easternmost province of Belgium; a person under a feudal tenure; a vassal; a loyal vassal, a subject; a lord or superior |
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| 25 | YOUNGEST | Unfortunate guy set on as the most junior *(guy set on) |
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| 26 | YEASTY | Indeed, dirty place may be restless and turbulent YEA = indeed, yes (archaic); STY = dirty place |
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| Down | |||
| 1 | DISTINCT | Individual with record time raking in the money DISC T = record time; TIN = money |
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| 2 | REFUTERS | They offer contrary evidence and sure fret when shown to be wrong *(sure fret) |
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| 3 | STRUM | Sound odd when going after holy woman? ST = saint, holy woman; RUM = odd |
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| 5 | ISOLATIONISTS | Liaisons? To sit out might suit them *(Liaisons To sit) |
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| 6 | EXISTENCE | Being one with a history of being loved, is joining number going to church EX = one with a history of being loved; IS; TEN = number; CE = church (Church of England) |
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| 7 | TWINGE | Pain shown by women in flush? W = women; TINGE = flush |
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| 8 | RAGING | Furious student event with booze being imbibed RAG = student event; GIN = booze |
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| 10 | POSTAGE STAMPS | Team’s stopgaps being trained — they don’t get licked the way they used to be *(Team’s stopgaps). Postage stamps don’t need to be licked any more. |
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| 14 | ENGRAVING | Impression of English — mad? ENG = English; RAVING = mad |
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| 15 | SPOTLESS | Miss more when looking, being innocent If you miss more when looking, you spot less. |
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| 16 | PROPHESY | Support the man’s yen to be a Jeremiah? PROP = support; HE’S = the man’s; Y = yen. A Jeremiah is a person who continually prophesies doom. |
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| 18 | STUMPY | Short and thickset agent with stomach to hide SPY agent; TUM = stomach |
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| 19 | APERCU | Brief comment from a copper for each getting nabbed A CU = a copper; PER = for each |
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| 22 | LILLE | The French getting sick in one of their cities LE = the, in French; ILL = sick |
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Thanks jetdoc. Did anyone spot the diagonal signing off? Back tomorrow!
Ah, now I see it! I thought there would be something…
Congrats on this milestone puzzle! Look forward to your contributions in the daily editions.
Thanks, Jane and of course Quixote. Seems we didn’t have long to wait for a weekday appearance!