the crosswords

PUZZLE 14660

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Neat petticoat in primrose (7) 5 Black or brown fur (5) 8 Source of information that may be borne out (8,5) 9 Doctor to die perhaps having no water left (5) 10 Outflowing currency (3,4) 11 Consider changing gear on the way (6) 12 Getaway by air (6) 15 Charge for keeping goods and silver in warehouse (7) 17 It’s made to contain spectacles (5) 19 Ambiguous combination of nobleman and guide (6,7) 20 Opponent from the Yemen (5) 21 Puts on something saucy? (7)

DOWN

1 His victims lose heart (5) 2 Not exactly striking description of what kings are doing (7,2,4) 3 Learned about Hero’s lover (7) 4 Conjuring pilgrim? (6) 5 Scour the outback (5) 6 A growing talent in the nursery? (7,6) 7 Tore end off while eating away (7) 11 Balance to settle around mid-January (7) 13 Unofficial news of an escape (7) 14 Smiled widely having support (6) 16 Metal ring held by a friend (5) 18 As a guardian he was fabulous (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Country of northwest Europe (7) 5 Underlying (5) 8 Accept without resistance (4,5,4) 9 A healing ointment (5) 10 Mad (7) 11 Summary of information (6) 12 Harrowing experience (6) 15 Stare down (7) 17 Student (5) 19 Endure pain uncomplainingly (4,3,4,2) 20 Presenting difficulties (5) 21 What remains (7)

DOWN

1 A target range (5) 2 Extremely fast (4,9) 3 Ailment (7) 4 For the most part (6) 5 Initiate (5) 6 Irascible (5-8) 7 Distrustful of human goodness (7) 11 Prolonged absence of rain (7) 13 Put down by force (7) 14 Sensitive (6) 16 Be in store for (5) 18 Metric unit of capacity (5)