A gentle Sunday puzzle from Poins.
| Across | ||
| 1 | MASTER | Mother admitting son is controlling (6) |
| S (son) in MATER (mother) | ||
| 4 | APPARENT | That may be seen as almost suitable by mother (8) |
| APt (suitable, almost) by PARENT (mother) – definition is ‘that may be seen’ | ||
| 10 | IMPORTANT | Fellow stashing wine on board – it’s of great concern (9) |
| MAN (fellow) containing (stashing) PORT (wine) all in (on board) IT | ||
| 11 | ABASE | Humble when introduced to Lincoln (5) |
| AS (when) in (introduced to) ABE (Abraham Lincoln) | ||
| 12 | TALE | Lie in shadow say (4) |
| sounds like “tail” (shadow) – definition is ‘lie’ | ||
| 13 | STRONGHOLD | Keep steadfast and carry on (10) |
| STRONG (steadfast) and HOLD (carry on) – definition is ‘keep’ | ||
| 15 | IRANIAN | Language barrier eventually overcome by one Scotsman then another (7) |
| barrieR (last, eventual letter of) in (overcome by) IAN (Scotsman) than IAN (another) | ||
| 16 | NUMBER | Count powerless to act against the Queen (6) |
| NUMB (powerless to act) by (against) ER (the Queen) – definition is ‘count’ | ||
| 19 | ATTEST | Witness acts oddly before trial (6) |
| AcTS (odd letters of) before TEST (trial) | ||
| 21 | SITWELL | It occupies stylish poet (7) |
| IT in (occupies) SWELL (stylish) – one of the Sitwell siblings, Edith Osbert or Sacheverell | ||
| 23 | PROSPEROUS | Andre ultimately overwhelmed by poor Spurs failing to become successful (10) |
| andrE (last letter of) in (ovewhelmed by) (POOR SPURS)* anagram=failing | ||
| 25 | SPAT | Quarrel with old man in street (4) |
| PA (old man) in ST (street) | ||
| 27 | RANGE | Row with Naomi initially carried by Vogue (5) |
| N (first of Naomi) in (carried by) RAGE (vogue) | ||
| 28 | UNDERSIDE | Adjusted undies to hide the German’s bottom (9) |
| DER (the, German) in UNDIES* anagram=adjusted | ||
| 29 | ABERDEEN | Live right by river running through the centre of Japanese city (8) |
| BE (live) R (right) by DEE (river in (running through) japANese (centre of) – definition is ‘city’ | ||
| 30 | CANNON | Learn about girl finding a weapon (6) |
| CON (learn) containing (about) ANN (girl) | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | MAINTAIN | Continue when principal trace of contamination’s finally removed (8) |
| MAIN (principal) TAINt (trace of contamination) final letter removed | ||
| 2 | SUPPLIANT | Asking earnestly to take over from boxing instructor at the outset (9) |
| SUPPLANT (take over from) containing (boxing) I (first letter of instructor) | ||
| 3 | EARN | Deserve to be informed after commencement (4) |
| LEARN (to be informed) not 1st letter (after comencement) | ||
| 5 | PUT DOWN | Record defeat (3,4) |
| double definition | ||
| 6 | AMALGAMATE | Combine to form new team after Alma’s replaced by Georgia (10) |
| TEAM* anagram=’to form new’ following (after) ALMA* anagram=replaced then (by) G (Georgia) – definition is ‘combine’ | ||
| 7 | ERATO | Muse for a time after hesitation over love (5) |
| A T (time) follows (after) ER (hesitation) on (over) O (love) | ||
| 8 | TRENDY | Attempt to cover tip with it (6) |
| TRY (attempt) contains (to cover) END (tip) – definition is ‘with it’ | ||
| 9 | CANTON | Is unable to get tolerable port in China (6) |
| CAN’T (is unable) with (to get) ON (tolerable, cf ‘not on’) | ||
| 14 | WIDESPREAD | Lax padres sadly found in many places (10) |
| WIDE (lax) PADRES* anagram=sadly | ||
| 17 | EXEMPTION | Immunity for English politician after former partner gets into trouble (9) |
| E (English) MP (politician) following (after) EX (former partner) INTO* anagram=trouble | ||
| 18 | SLATTERN | Drab grey colour worn by Thessaly’s earliest sailors (8) |
| SLATE (grey colour) contains (worn by) T (first letter, earliest of Thessaly) and RN (sailors) – definition is ‘drab’, a slovenly woman or prostitute | ||
| 20 | TORTURE | Anguish of French priest caught out after a wrongful act (7) |
| cURE (French priest) missing C=caught following (after) TORT (wrongful act) | ||
| 21 | STURDY | Contemplate drinking last of Oyster Stout (6) |
| STUDY (contemplate) containing (drinking) R (last letter of oyster) | ||
| 22 | SPARTA | Volunteers holding up box found in Ancient Greek location (6) |
| TA (Territirial Army, volunteers) following (supporting) SPAR (box) | ||
| 24 | OUNCE | Cat edges away from ball (5) |
| bOUNCEr (ball) missing end letters (edges) – the snow leopard | ||
| 26 | AREA | Part of answer found after time’s up (4) |
| A (answer) following ERA (time) reversed (up) – definition is ‘part of’ | ||
*anagram
Although I found this a little easier than a few of the recent IoS puzzles I still thought this was a good quality offering and an enjoyable solve. AREA was my LOI.
Thanks, PeeDee. I hope I’m not alone in having struggled with this one! Some great clues, of course, but I needed to come here to fine the final couple of answers and a few explanations.