CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

7/2

Across

1. Slowly feed the mind with its nil outcome (6)

4. The appropriate professional for each (6)

9. Document an embassy official didn’t finish (7)

10. Pain in the gut to cool with nothing less than endless ice (5)

11. Prepare course for an explorer (4)

12. If a learner driver is weaving about, don’t pass him (4)

13. Dance on which one doesn’t expect to be caught (3)

15. Very small return it makes to New York (4)

16. Regularly took drugs, being experienced (4)

19. Pinch Prohibition back (3)

21. Mathematical function of a radical (4)

22. Storage place where one can drink nectar first (4)

24. A bit one included in backbone separately (5)

25. As a writer she’d make it brighter (7)

26. How sweet-toned Elsie sounds in a piece for two (6)

27. It counts the inhabitants with cues which might include poles (6)

Down

1. Instructed in the principles of direction − and about time! (13)

2. Back-up of kind pup may be involved in (7)

3. An element, as found in laundry utensil (4)

5. Like a daredevil not to matter so much (8)

6. Infant’s wrap to clip up with brooch finally (5)

7. They greet guests or inspect ties put out for them (13)

8. Waterway in American alluvial system (5)

14. Get more cranes, maybe: that’s about it (8)

17. Artists’ knickers? (7)

18. Perhaps pays to include nothing with suds (5)

20. Scene of confusion with infant starting lunch (5)

23. Give way to some precedence (4)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Flattery 7. Court 8. Compete 9. Knocked 10. Link

12. Dwindle 14. Schemer 17. Acre 18. Cabaret 21. Trapped

22. Nerve 23. Reprieve

Down: 1. Facile 2. Admonish 3. Teem 4. Reeked 5. Tuck 6. Stodge

7. Crowing 11. Immerse 13. Disciple 14. Second 15. Rattle

16. Peddle 19. Burn 20. Pair

Use the nine letters to make

words, with the same centre letter for both. Each letter (other than the centre) can be used only once.

Across

7. Exactly what’s needed (colloq) (4,3,6)

8. Brutality (8)

9. Echoed (4)

10. Abduct (6)

12. Deranged (6)

14. Fowl (3)

15. Shortsightedness (6)

17. Spectres (6)

19. Let slip (4)

21. Relaxed (5,3)

23. Made legal (13)

Down

1. Modesty (8)

2. Pilfered (6)

3. Leg bone (4)

4. Guiding (8)

5. Scratches (6)

6. Slope (4)

11. Introduced gradually (6,2)

13. Informed (8)

16. Populace (6)

18. Decree (6)

20. Misled (4)

22. Oceans (4)