Enigmatic Variations 1369 Things by Shark

Two clues comprising two definitions each, but otherwise ordinary. Apart from 2 unclued entries – the across one of which has something to do with the double definition clues. No indication as to what the unclued down clue is! Then some cryptic representations to find (2×2 blocks) followed by 3 ten letter words. I must admit I tend to have difficulty getting onto Shark’s wavelength.

And this puzzle was no exception. Eventually with a lot of electronic thumbing of Chambers for obscure definition, the grid started to fill. 9 down and 13 down proved to be the double definition clues.

The unclued 12ac appeared to be either one or two as in Things one and two in the Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss (1dn)

There remained 4 cats to find – PUMA/LION/LYNX all partially enclosed by hats CHIMNEYPOT/BALIBUNTAL and TARPAULING

And that was that. Dr Seuss was always a favourite of mine as a child.

Any help with parsing 5dn and 37dn gratefully received

Thanks Shark – can’t say I enjoyed it, the clues were tougher than I like them, but the finale was worth it.

Key: Rev. reverse;  DD Double definition; * anagram; Underline definition

Across
2 Check amount of power with some lines out (5)
Country (power) – ry (some lines) = COUNT
6 Ancient settlers’ old English tombs (7)
oe (old english) + cists (tombs) = OECISTS
11 US politician who plants (8)
Romney (US politician) + a s (who) = ROMNEYAS
12 Unclued = ONE or TWO
14 Stumbles taking under age back on board (7)
pupil (under age) in SS (on board) = SLIP-UPS
16 Lakers sport books the lot (5)
bb (books) + all (the lot0 = B-BALL
18 Short memory for increase in poetry (3)
echo (memory) – o (short) = ECH
19 Primarily transport operative’s fees? (7)
t o (primarily transport operative’s) + wages (fees) = TOWAGES
20 Perhaps 33s bowled OK (4)
b (bowled) + yes (OK) = BYES
21 Part of nut without opening yields dehisced fruit (5)
bregma (part of nut (head)) – b (opening) = REGMA
22 Brother’s lampoon? No question (3)
squib (lampoon) – qu (question) = SIB
24 Muslim without one name for beast (4)
sunni (muslim) – one on (name) = SUNI
25 Hang back with document signed for German leagues (5)
Rev. nub (hang) + ds (document signed) = BUNDS
27 Sectarian exaggerated it when being taken in by charmer (11)
camp (exaggerated) + it in belle (charmer) = CAMPBELLITE
30 Having regurgitated, ill devouring a colocynth fruit? (5)
Rev. harm (ill) around a = MARAH
32 Died before port (4)
Ob (died) + an (before) = OBAN
34 Partner’s cycling around pasture (3)
pal (partner) cycling = ALP
35 It’s used to make ropes and sails, maybe (5)
(sails)* = SISAL
36 Molluscs circling over mud (4)
nya (molluscs) around o (over) = MOYA
38 Mum’s wrapping gear in place of worship (7, two words)
St’s (mum’s) around paul (gear) = ST PAULS
40 Mistake from unclad hobbit (3)
Merry (hobbit) – my (unclad) = ERR
41 At great cost, department’s gone too soon (5)
dearly (at great cost) – d (department) = EARLY
42 Cheat to cut allowance with confusion (7)
share (allowance) around pi (confusion) = SHARPIE
43 Charge changes of policy by the sound of it (3)
Homonym of tacks (changes of policy) = TAX
44 Asian rhino to drag back in National Trust? Bizarre! (8)
Rev. lug (drag) in NT (national trust) + rum (bizarre) = NGULTRUM
45 Football passes round the bend interrupted by Ryan? (7)
nuts (round the bend) aroung Meg (Ryan) = NUTMEGS
46 Chemical marks warning (5)
alar (cherical trademark) + m (marks) = ALARM

DOWN

1 Unclued
DR SEUSS
2 Drug suppliers pass on dye (8)
col (pass) + chica (dye) = COLCHICA
3 University city having constrained settlement is to do away with it (5)
U (university) + NY (city) around pa (settlement) = UNPAY
4 Theme tunes playing without the time for monosyllabic notes (6)
(theme tunes – the t)* = NEUMES
5 Mispoints? Fundamentally different but the same! (5)
I assume a cryptic definition but don’t quite see it = TYPOS
7 Loiters about luxury resort (7)
(loiters)* = ESTORIL
8 Moth’s companion practically feeble in salad (6)
wet (feeble) – t in cobb (salad) = COBWEB (Midsummer night’s dream)
9 Curtain catch (4)
SWAG or SNAG
10 Producers of 36 special cracking deals (6)
s (special) + (deals)* = SALSES
13 Colony of old trees (4)
ELEA or OLEA
15 Asbestos beginning to nobble bats in perch (9, two words)
(asbestos + n)* = STONE BASS
17 Hurricane to drop away from course over Rubicon sporadically (6)
bag (drop away from course) + rUbIcOn = BAGUIO
23 Ordinary dish mostly in stomach (6)
o (ordinary) + masala (dish) – a = OMASAL
26 Confusion from shop entrance (present no longer) (8)
Deli (entrance) + atrium (entrance) – at (present) = DELIRIUM
28 Swelling’s almost noticeable on fish (7)
bold (noticeable) – d + ling (fish) =
29 Conspire methodically to expose thread (7)
hidden conSPIRE MEthodically = SPIREME
30 Ruminate about completion written up on time (6, two words)
Rev. sum (completion) + eon (time) = MUSE ON
31 Grass not once containing uranium mineral (6)
hay (grass) + ne (not once) around u (uranium) = HAUYNE
33 It results in extra fat cat without exception (6)
Nob (fat cat) + all (without exception) = NO-BALL
35 Temperature regulator’s short flap (4)
state (flap) – e = STAT
36 Alcohol is extracted from SA tuber (5)
mashua (SA tuber) – s (is) = MAHUA
37 Going back to look for Shetland ducks (5)
???? YARTA
39 Duff up uninitiated scum (4)
sprat (scum) – s (uninitiated) = PRAT