*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition.
Fairly straightforward this week, with very few sticking points and nothing that really needs explaining. Enjoyable all the same, and there are some cracking words in the answers.
At the risk of self-promotion, readers may care to browse my rather neophytic thoughts on solving advanced cryptic crosswords, and perhaps suggest their own pointers.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | EDITING – EDG[y] “occupied by” (IT + IN). |
| 6 | SPANK – KNAPS<. |
| 10 | NIDICOLOUS – (1 + COULOU[R]S) “after” DIN<. |
| 11 | TSAR – [assis]TS AR[twork]. |
| 12 | CUESTA – CUES + TA. |
| 13 | PERMALLOYS – (LAMP SOLELY)*. |
| 14 | RED SEA – RESEDA “with advance of” D. |
| 17 | APOLLONICON – (A ICON) “capturing” (POLL ON). |
| 18 | EREMACAUSIS – (MEASURES I + CA)*. |
| 22 | TRAPPY – PP “dividing” TRAY. |
| 23 | NEAT-CATTLE – NETTLE “about” ACTA<. |
| 25 | UNDIES – UN + DIES. |
| 26 | DURA – dd. “Dura mater”/”durra”. |
| 27 | IMPRIMATUR – (IMPI “guarding” R) + MATUR[e]. |
| 28 | EDICT – EDI + CT. |
| 29 | PLEROMA – PL + E + ROMA. |
| Down | |
| 1 | ENTERA – ENTER + A. |
| 2 | DISHEARTENED – DID “dressing” (SHEAR + TENE). |
| 3 | TIRESOME – TOME “filled with” (IRE + S). |
| 4 | ICER – I[s] C[h]E[r]R[y]. |
| 5 | NORMALCY – (CAR ONLY)* “to cover” M. |
| 6 | KOULAN – 0 “grasped by” (LUNK A)*. |
| 7 | ASSOT – OSSA< + T. |
| 8 | PITYROSPORUM – TYROS “to split” (PIP OR + UM). |
| 9 | SEASON – SEA + SON. |
| 15 | BOATTAIL – BOA + TT + AIL. Another name for the grackle. |
| 16 | RISALDAR – (RAD + L + A SIR)<. |
| 18 | ENNUYE – EYE “arresting” NUN*. |
| 19 | ACCEPT – CEP “breaking” ACT. |
| 20 | AYMARA – AY “supported by” (MA + RA). |
| 21 | RADII – R + AD + II. |
| 24 | TAME – MATE*. |