the crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Quiet having been overpowered (7) 5 A sound method to consider (5) 8 One old fort now turned into a tourist attraction (5,2,6) 9 Performing dog in variety (5) 10 Still in a terrible fluster (7) 11 Understand it’s describing figures below ten (6) 12 Lowered like a sailor given the wrong date? (6) 15 Sorry about old music-maker being honoured (7) 17 Imprisons many for a long time (5) 19 It’s unspeakable! (13) 20 After some relief a number relaxed (5) 21 Specific state (7)

DOWN

1 Seen we hear to be lying (5) 2 One should hear pins drop in these places (7,6) 3 Honourable post? (7) 4 Put out of shape when wrongly formed (6) 5 Tiger found in forests (5) 6 Be fit and agile perhaps and tireless (13) 7 Felt that an employee came first (7) 11 It’s deep in distress but undeterred (7) 13 Supports people have when annoyed (5,2) 14 Stick the poster in this sport (6) 16 Largely drank up a store of supplies (5) 18 Measures ladder (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Learned person (7) 5 Conjecture (5) 8 Virtually at once (2,2,4,2,3) 9 An improbable account (5) 10 Symbol of sovereignty (7) 11 Unrefined (6) 12 To help (6) 15 Restrain (7) 17 Proficient (5) 19 Sharp reproof (4,2,4,3) 20 Prod gently with elbow (5) 21 Unmasked (7)

DOWN

1 Not working freely (5) 2 Be very precariously poised (4,2,1,6) 3 Literature (7) 4 Careless of duty (6) 5 Degree of quality (5) 6 Spitting image (5,8) 7 Most noticeable (7) 11 A light diaphanous fabric (7) 13 Rouse from apathy (5,2) 14 Comedian’s straight man (6) 16 Pale sandy fawn colour (5) 18 Bushed (5)

PUZZLE 15032