“MEA CULPA: the results of my sins are suggested by modifications which must be made to three answers on entry into the grid; the lengths given are those of grid entries. Three other clues lack a shared definition; their solutions suggest my victims. My first name can be seen above; you must locate and highlight my nine-letter second name in the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
The theme is GOLDILOCKS
14ac, 3dn, and 16dn all lack the common definition BEAR.
SAMP (porridge) is missing from 8dn.
In CHAIRS (23ac), the CHAIR is broken, giving RACHIS.
Finally, the bears find ME in COT in 31ac.
RANUNCULUS AURICOMUS is also known as goldilocks buttercup, and AURICOMUS is to be highlighted in the grid.
(Apologies this blog was so late in appearing. It was a very enjoyable puzzle.)
Notation
(xxx) = definition
[xxx] = (anagram/homophone/container/etc.) indicator
XXX* = anagram
< = reversal
Please post a comment if the explanations are not clear.
| Across | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAPPY | SPY (Setter) [admits] < (returning) PA (pop), having plenty of juice (5) |
| 6 | DUCHESS | Slate size DU (of the French) CHES |
| 11 | KRILL | Marine eats KR ([skin of] KIPPER) with ILL (difficulty) (5) |
| 12 | ARCLIGHT | I illuminate CL (small volume) [held in] A RIGHT (one hand) (8) |
| 13 | LION | ON (Running) [behind] LI (Chinese distance) champion (4) |
| 14 | BARLEY(=BEAR) | ARLE (Give preliminary payment for) [taps] BY (at one’s home) (6) |
| 15 | POLARIZE | Divide PRIZE (treasure), [keeping] A [reduced] < LO |
| 17 | PRONG | Point PONG (to gag) [about] R (JOGGER’s [backside]) (5) |
| 18 | APPETITE | A P (priest) with PETITE (little) enthusiasm (8) |
| 21 | CRENELS | Notches C (century), N (NOT [initially]) [being tied down by] REELS (spinners) (7) |
| 23 | CHAIRS (RACHIS) | Presides over CH (chart) AIRS (shows) (6) |
| 24 | SCHLEP | Nobody HELPS* [ruffian] [catching] C (cold) (6) |
| 27 | LARGEST | Most great LAGERS* [will be reordered] [ahead of] T (time) (7) |
| 29 | DISBURSE | < {S (Stokes) RUBS (frets)} [about] [cutting] DIE (long) stump up (8) |
| 31 | COT (COMET) | Small boat [in] |
| 33 | SPANNERS | SCANNERS (Hi-tech medical instruments) C (about) [to be replaced with] P (power) tools (8) |
| 35 | TAURIC | TUR |
| 36 | MUST | MUSTER (Assembly of troops) [leaving ER (Queen)] in dangerous frenzy (4) |
| 37 | ONE-ON-ONE | Like chess autobiography? (8) |
| 38 | FORGO | Give up FOR (during) GO (game) (5) |
| 39 | RESPECT | Particular RE (about) SECT (party) [pounding] P (piano) (7) |
| 40 | GREET | Scots keen < TEER (to render) G (good) [turns] (5) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SKIPPER | SLIPPER (Lightweight shoe) with K ([heel of] CORK) for L (line) dancer (7) |
| 2 | ARMORIAL | Collected bearings A (before) M ([beginning to] MARSHAL) OR (men) [in] < [headlong] LAIR (retreat) (8) |
| 3 | PILLOWCASE (=BEAR) | {POLICE SAW}* [criminal] [pinching] L ([lead from] LODGINGS) (10) |
| 4 | PLIANT | I (One) [stopping] PLANT (to fix) elastic (6) |
| 5 | MANIACS | [Without ER (hesitation)], AM |
| 6 | DRUZ | Syrians in DZ (Algeria) [sealing] < UR (ancient city) [up] (4) |
| 7 | CLARENCE | CLARE (Nun) [receiving] E (WIMPLE [at last]) with NC (no charge) for carriage (8) |
| 8 | SAMPHIRE (HIRE) | [Transformed] {PIE with MARSH}* umbellifer (4) |
| 9 | SHEET | Newspaper HE (that fellow) has SET (ready for) [wrapping] (5) |
| 10 | STYLET | Probe [some] |
| 16 | MILLIMETRE | [Most of] MILLE |
| 19 | PRESS (=BEAR) | PROWESS (Daring) [to let out] OW (cry of pain) (5) |
| 20 | FIGURINE | FIG (Soft fruit) – URINE (stale) mandarin? (8) |
| 22 | SEWERAGE | Refuse SEE (to attend) RAGE (rave) W (with) [bores] (8) |
| 24 | STEAMER | A (Adult) M (male) [trapped in] STEER (cox)’s wetsuit (7) |
| 25 | POT SHOT | Criticism {O (of) HST (high-speed train) [quelled by] TOP (better)} [wheels] (7, two words) |
| 26 | EDITOR | Person organising hacks < (upset) {ROT (corrupt) IDE (swimmer)} (6) |
| 28 | TONSOR | [Rock] {SN (SALMON [(filleted)]) OR TO (TORPEDO [(likewise)])}*? Mullet could be my speciality (6) |
| 30 | INANE | Ridiculous IN AN E (where you’d find MDMA?) (5) |
| 32 | CROP | Supply CR ([discharged] CHAUFFEUR) with OP (work) (4) |
| 34 | PONT | Ferry roped in N (ENO, [essentially] [in] POT (Plant’s place)? (4) |
| S | A | P | P | Y | M | D | U | C | H | E | S | S |
| K | R | I | L | L | A | R | C | L | I | G | H | T |
| I | M | L | I | O | N | U | B | A | R | L | E | Y |
| P | O | L | A | R | I | Z | E | R | E | M | E | L |
| P | R | O | N | G | A | P | P | E | T | I | T | E |
| E | I | W | T | F | C | R | E | N | E | L | S | T |
| R | A | C | H | I | S | E | S | C | H | L | E | P |
| E | L | A | R | G | E | S | T | E | T | I | W | O |
| D | I | S | B | U | R | S | E | C | O | M | E | T |
| I | N | E | C | R | S | P | A | N | N | E | R | S |
| T | A | U | R | I | C | O | M | U | S | T | A | H |
| O | N | E | O | N | O | N | E | F | O | R | G | O |
| R | E | S | P | E | C | T | R | G | R | E | E | T |