CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Until I cap OB, it can be used for issue (11)

8. Donnish, perhaps, and extravagantly romantic (8)

9. Clothing that one may change in one’s car (4)

10. Have no right to take over authority like this (5)

13. Having this, one is a bit in front, but on it one is nervous (4)

16. Design it with acid and, being French, take on the church (4)

17. What mopper-up used was changed by bleach initially (4)

18. How one admits one is a proprietor (4)

20. Pins one down as one sails against the wind (5)

24. Continual activity on which the crone moves (4)

25. Such care as father takes with the hiring fee (8)

26. Gain slant it offers by being attractive but unattainable (11)

DOWN

2. A singular number held up by the retinue (4)

3. Literary ones are a roaring success with their readers (5)

4. Proclamation reader given credit: that’s right (5)

5. Fireplace for people to get together and mix, without a leader (5)

6. Do trees in the piazza have such mathematical functions? (6,5)

7. Fly for a container that has white wine in it (11)

11. A spill that may disagree with one (5)

12. A wide and irrational fear of such grass (5)

14. Is depressed, seeing such soft stuff (4)

15. Closely examine how poetry might work (4)

19. The Devil turned up in a season at Ascot (5)

21. How to make use of a broken vial (5)

22. Wails that one is eager to go south (5)

23. Puts up Hazel and Brazil, only to knock one out (4) WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Showpiece 5. Row 7. Need 8. Educated

10. Abnormal 11. Wear 13. Strike 15. Switch 18. Cove

19. Silencer 22. Pintable 23. Dido 24. Rue 25. September Down: 1. Sandals 2. Ocean 3. Endear 4. Each 5. Retreat

6. Wader 9. Drake 12. Sweet 14. Revenge 16. Harbour

17. Fillip 18. Caper 20. Climb 21. Lass