Always a sound Quiptic from Pasquale. He is a setter that I particularly recommend to newer solvers of cryptics.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 After vehicle test I have reason to act
MOTIVE
A charade of MOT and IVE.
4 Plant grown for fibre – tricky affair
RAFFIA
(AFFAIR)* with ‘tricky’ as the anagrind.
9 Cutting tool carried by mad zealot
ADZE
Hidden in mAD ZEalot.
10 Sad brother munched biscuit
SHORTBREAD
(SAD BROTHER)* with ‘munched’ as the anagrind.
11 Lively Virginia sunk in wickedness
VIVACE
An insertion of VA in VICE gives you the musical term for ‘lively’. The insertion indicator is ‘sunk in’
12 One trade arrangement is mooted initially with unrealistic outlook?
IDEALISM
A charade of I, DEAL, IS and M for the initial letter of ‘mooted’.
13 Hindrance restricting holy person and lawyer
BARRISTER
An insertion of ST in BARRIER. The insertion indicator is ‘restricting’.
15 Expression of surprise, say, when given notice
EGAD
A charade of EG and AD. An archaic word, a mild oath.
16 Grimace shown by female star
FACE
A charade of F and ACE.
17 Chalet – it’s adapted for sport
ATHLETICS
(CHALET ITS)* with ‘adapted’ as the anagrind.
21 Produce sort of sound to interrupt fight
BRING OUT
An insertion of RING in BOUT. The insertion indicator is ‘to interrupt’.
22 Country with an extraordinary goal
ANGOLA
A charade of AN and (GOAL)* with ‘extraordinary’ as the anagrind.
24 Poet needs hard cord put around plant
HELIOTROPE
An insertion of ELIOT in H and ROPE. The insertion indicator is ‘needs … put around’.
25 Soldiers appearing after a last word of prayer
AMEN
A charade of A and MEN.
26 Midshipman’s joint
REEFER
A dd.
27 One cat to be doctored immediately
AT ONCE
(ONE CAT)* with ‘to be doctored’ as the anagrind.
Down
1 Mum has a ride around island
MADEIRA
A charade of MA and (A RIDE)* with ‘around’ as the anagrind.
2 Bit of English in that awful Greek letter
THETA
An insertion of E for the initial letter of ‘English’ in (THAT)* The insertion indicator is ‘in’ and the anagrind is ‘awful’.
3 Five Eastern saints holding a service of prayer
VESPERS
A charade of V, E and PER inserted into SS. The insertion indicator is ‘holding’. The A/PER equivalent comes up quite often. ‘The pears are £1.50 a/per kilo.’
5 A new Mass includes the piece for choir to sing
ANTHEM
A charade of A and an insertion of THE in N and M. The insertion indicator is ‘includes’.
6 Visible sign of conflagration? Escape, hiding anger
FIRELIGHT
An insertion of IRE in FLIGHT. The insertion indicator is ‘hiding’.
7 Gathered in the morning to meet idiot, paper boss
AMASSED
A charade of AM, ASS and ED.
8 Loo sprayed with antiseptic in public building
POLICE STATION
(LOO ANTISEPTIC)* with ‘sprayed with’ as the anagrind.
14 Tried once to reform? Not straightforward
RECONDITE
(TRIED ONCE)* with ‘to reform’ as the anagrind.
16 Not against confronting wild animal? Hold back!
FORBEAR
A charade of FOR and BEAR.
18 Most meagre bird’s home to south of meadow
LEANEST
A charade of LEA and NEST. ‘To south of’ works because it’s a down clue.
19 Old king embracing member in academic institution
COLLEGE
An insertion of LEG in COLE. The insertion indicator is ’embracing’. Old King Cole was a merry old soul …
20 Thus love article that makes you calm down
SOOTHE
A charade of SO, O and THE.
23 Nana eating one bit of cereal?
GRAIN
An insertion of I in GRAN. The insertion indicator is ‘eating’.
Many thanks to Pasquale for this week’s Quiptic.
Very smooth, a perfect “quiptic”. It took me a while to remember the mot in MOTIVE. HELIOTROPE was my only unknown.
Bang on for a quiptic.
Thanks Pasquale & Pierre.
Overall, a very nice and easy quiptic, however there are a few obscure words, which I luckily vaguely remembered from previous crosswords, but newer solvers may not necessarily know. Thanks Pasquale and Pierre!
Found it hard to get any traction in the south west corner but got there eventually. Thank you, Pierre, for the clear explanations and Pasquale for the brain workout.
Pasquale hits the Quiptic mark with this grid, but perhaps no surprises there. Very clear clueing. REEFER was last in for me as I didn’t know it could be a synonym for midshipman and needed all the crossers to see how it worked (joint). Lots to enjoy though. Thanks to Pasquale and Pierre for your blog.