the crosswords
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 It would be if you bought it as seasoned timber (3,4)
5 Man’s highest state? (5)
8 It can give you news you can carry around (8,5)
9 Don’t have any main course? (5)
10 Coastal backwater (3,4)
11 Barbershop singer (6)
12 A sorry state, but showing promise (6) 15 Space needed in the home or in the theatre (7)
17 In a position to give a broad smile (5) 19 Ambiguous combination of nobleman and guide (6,7)
20 Give up striving for a dividend (5) 21 Gets ready to eat, or to be eaten (7)
DOWN
1 Fleet is quiet in attack (5)
2 Not exactly striking description of what kings are doing (7,2,4)
3 Yet he still plays Shylock (7)
4 They’re purely symbolic (6)
5 Beat and serve out broth (5)
6 Tomorrow’s gardening expert? (7,6)
7 A standing measure (3,4)
11 Period without food appears to pass quickly (4,3)
13 Unofficial news of an escape (7) 14 Appeared to be soundly joined (6)
16 Felt unwell when the girl turned up (5) 18 Wise man of a smug disposition (5)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Competent (7)
5 Demean oneself (5) 8 Vengeful justice (2,3,3,2,3) 9 Hard, dreary work (5) 10 Origin of anything (7) 11 Deteriorated condition (6) 12 To venture (6)
15 Sequin (7)
17 Soak in liquid (5)
19 Sharp rebuke (4,2,4,3) 20 Faithful (5)
21 Very much (7)
DOWN
1 Ringing metallic sound (5) 2 In undue haste (13) 3 Liberality of mind (7) 4 Sufficient (6)
5 Stigma (5)
6 Exaggeration (13) 7 Gratified (7)
11 Diffident (7)
13 Severely simple (7)
14 Be appropriate (6) 16 Question intensely (5) 18 Ward off (5)