Enigmatic Variations 1361 Everywhere by Oxymoron

Something to be removed from all across answers – specified by 2 down answers. The down answers are normal. And nothing to highlight! Two unclued entries to find, which define what needs to be removed from the across answers before grid entry.

Typical Oxymoron fare – precise clue-ing and unexpected meanings in the clues. Not a stroll in the park by any means.

It became obvious early on that all the across answers were 3 letters short – with the crossing downs entered I hazarded a guess that proved correct that the beginning, middle and end of the answers  were to be removed.

1dn became LEFT RIGHT and 15dn AND CENTRE – an accurate description of the letters to be removed.

Thanks Oxymoron and hoping all had a merry Christmas and can find some optimism for the interesting year ahead of us all.

Key:

Rev. reverse; * Anagram; Underline definition; DD Double definition – grid entries shown after the solution to the across clue

Across

1 Communal fund society recently left inside chest (6, two words)

S (society) + late (recently) + l (left) in cub (chest) = SLATE CLUB = LATCLU

6 One woman’s to take on board a court official’s office (6)

Us (one) + her (woman’s) + ship (take on board) = USHERSHIP = SHESHI

10 An element encountered by every ordinary fish (6)

Met (encountered) + all (every) + o (ordinary) + id (fish) = METALLOID = ETALOI

11 Craterous view shows behind promontory (6)

Moons (shows behind) + cape (promontory) = MOONSCAPE = OONCAP

12 From Wales a later novel book (12, four words)

(from Wales a later)* = A FAREWELL TO ARMS = FAREWELTOARM

14 West Indian to improve on protection from Victoria’s Buster? (6)

W (west) + Ind (Indian) + break (to improve on) = WINDBREAK = INDREA

16 Prayer furniture examined with curiosity by Indo-European wife (6)

Pried (examined with curiosity) + ie (Indo European) = PRIE-DIEUX = RIEIEU

17 Growing together and spreading advancement (6)

(and)* + ascent (advancement) = ADNASCENT = DNACEN

18 Doctor coped with sonics for short periods (8)

(coped + sonics)* = PICOSECONDS = ICOSCOND

22 Prime time wasted by college’s study of the unknown? (8)

(prime time)* + c’s (college’s) METEMPIRICS = ETEMIRIC

25 Babylonian gypsy, some say father to William’s mother (6)

Chal (gypsy some say ) + Da (father) + ean (William’s mother – Shakespeare) = CHALDAEAN = HALAEA

26 Falconer sat uncomfortably on substituted horse (6)

(sat)* + ringer (substituted horse) = ASTRINGER = STRNGE

28 Conventional people from Turkey are wearing spectacles (6)

Tr (Turkey) + a (are) in Sights (spectacles) = STRAIGHTS = TRAGHT

30 Important army in power showing the capacity of being supportable (12)

Main (important) + ta (army) + in + ability (power) = MAINTAINABILITY = AINTAIABILIT

31 Contentious debater pleased with independent reversal of tribunal (6)

Glad (pleased) + I (independent) + Rev. rota (tribunal) = GLADIATOR = LADATO

32 Fussy tinker to critically examine small ornaments, etc (6)

(tinker)* + try (critically examine) = TRINKETRY = RINETR

33 Having an affiliation, live with desire (6)

Be (live) + longing (desire) = BELONGING = ELOGIN

34 German greeted a whacky gizmo freak (6)

G (German) + (greeted a)* = GADGETEER

Down

2 First class colt carrying burden lacking coordination of movement (6)

AI (First class) + c (colt) around tax (burden) = ATAXIC

3 Pastry set on time (4)

Tar (set on) + t (time) = TART

4 Coloured mostly silver ornate U-shaped piece (6)

C (coloured) + (silver – r)* = CLEVIS

5 Women constrained by ‘go slow’ knock off work in Glasgow (5)

W (women) in lose (go slow) = LOWSE

6 Dean’s first lesson is on reliability (9)

(d + lesson is)* = SOLIDNESS

7 Land-army’s first pair finished climbing without any complications? (6)

Rev. [LA (Land army’s first pair) + done (finished)] = ENODAL

8 Is chapter in tender comparatively scant (7)

S (Is) = c (chapter) in carer (tender) = SCARCER

9 Sacred place in this year continually raised money (6)

Ha (in this year) + Rev. eer (continually) + m (money) = HAREEM

13 Assigned part translated into a short passage (9)

Quota (assigned part) + (into)* = QUOTATION

19 Virginia’s novel American city (7)

DD ORLANDO

20 Fresh air inspired by local young female swimmer (6)

(air)* in Gal (local young female) = GARIAL

21 Disorderly game for children following riotous festivity (6)

Tag (game for children) after rag (riotous festivity) = RAGTAG

23 Disgusting Irish ruler (6)

Ir (Irish) = king (ruler) = IRKING

24 One fool carrying new electronic torch (6)

I (one) + git (fool) around n (new) + e (electronic) = IGNITE

27 Emaciated sailor in fit condition at Oban (5)

Ab (sailor) in tid (fit condition) = TABID

29 Bishop allowed to become sleepy (4)

B (bishop) + let (allowed) = BLET