A lot of cryptic definitions today, but nothing too fiendish.
Across
1. ADMINISTRATES. DISTANTARMIES*
10. CRIME WAVE. cryptic def.
11. MOVER. MOVE + (ap)R(il).
12. OUTRÉ. Centre spread could be (sp)RE(ad) + OUT, but not sure what ‘way’ is doing.
13. LOCKSMITH. double def.
14. EGO TRIP. TOGRIPE*·
16. EPICURE. PIE* + CURE.
18. ADDED UP. double def.
20. GENTEEL. GENT + EEL.
21. ISLE OF MAN. cryptic def, a reference to the three-legged symbol of the isle.
23. SPRIG. S.P. + RIG.
24. NONET. N(ON)ET.
25. EYELASHES. EYE + LAS(HE)S.
26. BOARDING CARDS. BOARDING + CARDS.
Down
2. DRIFTWOOD. DRIFT + WOOD.
3. IRENE. IRE + (0)NE.
4. IN A FLAP. IFAPLAN*.
5. TREACLE. The dormouse talks about a ‘treacle well’ in Alice in Wonderland.
6. ADMISSION. double def.
7. ENVOI. (giv)EN VOI(ce).
8. OCTOGENARIANS. ONCEAGAINSORT*
9. ARCHAEOLOGIST. cryptic def.
15. RADIO STAR. double def.
17. UNEARTHED. double def. If an appliance is unearthed you could get an electric shock from it.
19. POMPEII. cryptic def.
20. GINSENG. INEGGS* around (mor)N(ing).
22. LINGO. L + IN GO.
23. SCALA. (to)SCA LA(st).
Ciaran
12a is OUT (striking) [sp]RE[ad] with the definition ‘way out’.
Many thanks, Ciaran, a very easy start for the week.
However, I was very disappointed that BLACK HOLE was not the required solution for 15d.
Gaufrid – oh well done – I was stuck on the idea of striking = outre
17:20 and nowt much said, so better just say ta to Rufus.
Yes, thanks Ciaran and Rufus. Again, lots of nice surfaces. I liked 17dn.
I thought this was an easy and pleasant Rufus. For once, I finished it in one sitting (without having to return to it later in the day).
As a newbie i was pleased to have finished this without the aid of a dictionary/google/making words up. And fairly quickly.
However i can’t get my head around 11ac – i put “mover” in, as it was the only word i could get to fit, but don’t get how it works.
Can anyone explain further?
mover is one who proposes a motion (on a board, say)
move is as in a chess move (on a board) mid april is r, the middle letter.
Thanks Jim.
Reckon i was overthinking it!
Can’t believe I couldn’t see 26a with all the crossing letters in !
1a When did ‘administers’ become ‘administrates’ ?
My 1953 Imperial Reference Dictionary has the latter form as ‘rare, except in US’. Like ‘billion’, then and much else….