‘In GOOD AUSPICES, answers to unclued entries in single-digit positions are thematically related; those at 11 (so they say) belong to a later set. Unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters of these unclued entries could spell WIND IS UP – I HALT DOZINGS. A seven-letter word which might be seen during the transition must be appropriately coloured (in whatever manner), as must two linked identical squares of four cells each. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.’
I was pretty tired when I solved this one, and I was grateful that it wasn’t the toughest one there’s been recently, and that the grid fill was fairly steady.
The unclued entires in single-digit positions are PUDDLES (1ac), SHOWER (6ac), PRECIPITATION (1dn), DELUGE (2dn), DRIZZLE (3dn), and STAIR RODS (6dn). 11dn and 11ac give SUN SHINE.
The seven-letter word RAINBOW can be found in an appropriate shape in the finished grid, along with GOLD (x2) at its bases. I’ve shaded the grid below to the best of my extremely mediocre abilities, but on paper I think it’s nicer to colour it rather more like a rainbow.
Small note: I’m not sure how the word ‘obscuring’ functions in 30dn.
Notation
(xxx) = definition
[xxx] = (anagram/homophone/container/etc.) indicator
XXX* = anagram
< = reversal
Please post a comment if the explanations are not clear.
| Across | ||
|---|---|---|
| 10 | REERECT | Once again build REE (Dougal’s walled enclosure) RECTANGLE (oblong [knocking out] ANGLE) (7) |
| 12 | EBLIS | E (HE’s [fallen leader]), [deprived of S (special)] BLIS |
| 14 | AUMAIL | AU (Gold) MAIL (armour) for poet’s rare old figure (6) |
| 15 | CRUZADO | {CO ([Half of CÔTE]) D’AZUR}* [playing] once Brazil’s ready (7) |
| 16 | USE | US (American) [and] E (European) employment (3) |
| 18 | SPRUCE | Trim tree (6) |
| 19 | PEELITE | Corn Law supporter PE (exercises) ELITE (choice) (7) |
| 20 | RIDGES | RIDES (Trips) [across] G (grand) ranges of hills (6) |
| 22 | IDLERS | Fine gentlemen L (left) [in] [desperate] DIRE* S (STRAITS [in the end]) (6) |
| 27 | TIE-IN | Maybe a film promo IE (that is) [in] TIN (the can) (5) |
| 31 | DECREE | Proclamation DE (of French) CREE (Native American) (6) |
| 32 | BAMBOOS | BAM (Hoax) BOOS (calls showing contempt) for grasses (7) |
| 34 | REMEX | REX (The king) [to imprison] ME? I’m on the wing (5) |
| 35 | TRYP | TRY (Go) [and] P (pawn) 42 animal swimming in blood (4) |
| 37 | ROWDIEST | Most riotous ROW (noise) DIES (abates) [with] T (time) (8) |
| 39 | GO IT | GO (Energy) [and] IT (personal magnetism): olé! (4, two words) |
| 40 | OUTLAW | Put ban on O (Oscar)’s CUT LAWN [except the edges] (6) |
| 41 | OLD-WORLD | Antiquated {LORD WO |
| 42 | TEENSY-WEENSY | Very small TEEN’S (adolescent’s) YY (yens), [hiding] WEENS (fancies) (12) |
| Down | ||
| 4 | ECADS | EC (European Community) ADS (notices) communities dependent on environment (5) |
| 5 | STOOPED | Bent TOO (unduly), SPED (rushed) [around] (7) |
| 7 | OHMIC | OH (Gosh!) MIC (Maybe bug) is associated with resistance (5) |
| 8 | ENISLE | Isolate EN (nurse) with ISLE (key) (6) |
| 9 | RELEASE | Set free in REL (relative) EASE (comfort) (7) |
| 13 | BREED | < DEER (Stag perhaps) [goes up to] B (black) bear (5) |
| 17 | FIRN | FIR (Conifer) [above] N (new) high-up snow (4) |
| 21 | DECEITS | {DERREN RESUSCITATED} might appear to be {UNDER ARREST}* with these misdirections (7) |
| 23 | LEA | [At end of] LEAP (spring) [there’s no] P (parking) in the meadow (3) |
| 24 | VERDURE | Green vegetation produced by VERGER (church caretaker), [some might say]? (7) |
| 25 | ERMELIN | M ([Piece of] MUSLIN) [put in to] RELINE* [tatty] old fur (7) |
| 26 | SEESAWS | [Over] S (sierra) SEE (notice) SAW (observed) ups and downs (7) |
| 28 | IMPI | Warriors that are IMPISH (mischievous), [not] SH (quiet) (4) |
| 29 | BORERS | Bits from BORDER (the edges) [but not the centre] (6) |
| 30 | GOOGLY | GOO (Mawkishness) obscuring [all but the first] UGLY misleading question (6) |
| 33 | BATON | BAT ON (Captain’s advice to one who is in) as staff? (5) |
| 36 | YODE | Edmund’s went YODEL (to sing in the mountains) [endlessly] (4) |
| 38 | TWAY | A couple in Gretna Green T ([first to] TAKE) WAY (the desired path) (4) |
| P | U | D | D | L | E | S | S | H | O | W | E | R |
| R | E | E | R | E | C | T | T | S | H | I | N | E |
| E | B | L | I | S | A | O | A | U | M | A | I | L |
| C | R | U | Z | A | D | O | I | N | I | U | S | E |
| I | E | G | Z | F | S | P | R | U | C | E | L | S |
| P | E | E | L | I | T | E | R | I | D | G | E | S |
| I | D | L | E | R | S | D | O | V | E | E | S | E |
| T | I | E | I | N | B | G | D | E | C | R | E | E |
| A | B | A | M | B | O | W | S | R | E | M | E | X |
| T | R | Y | P | A | R | O | W | D | I | E | S | T |
| I | G | O | I | T | E | G | O | U | T | L | A | W |
| O | L | D | W | O | R | L | D | R | S | I | W | A |
| N | T | E | E | N | S | Y | W | E | E | N | S | Y |
Thanks, Mr S. I’ve heard of a certain type of rain being described as stair rods before but interestingly Chambers does not give that definition. As for 30d, I suppose something can obscure an item just by being in front of it and not necessarily surrounding it.
Yes, so it can! Funny how one has these preconceptions, particularly when we’re just shuffling letters.