Crossword 2727

ACROSS

1 Acclaimed (6) 4 Rubbed off (5) 7 Always, endlessly (4) 8 Invitation To Tender (3) 9 Standard of perfection (5) 10 Natural home of an animal or plant (7)

11 Poetic word for before (3) 12 Coating on a cake (5)

13 The most memorable part of an event (9) 18 Transparent (5) 19 Internal Rate of Return (3) 20 Relating to the pleasant aspects of the rural life (7) 21 High-quality porcelain tableware, originally made in China (5)

22 Tavern (3)

23 Attain (4)

24 Glue, gum (5)

25 Soak (6)

DOWN

1 Young cow (6)

2 _ _ _ _ wear it (2,3,4,4) 3 Bible: the woman who betrayed Nazarite Samson to the Philistines (7)

4 The _ is on the wall (7) 5 Medical practitioner specialising in children and their diseases (13) 6 Torrential rain, great flood of water (6) 14 Worthless, useless, or unwanted matter (5) 15 Shut up in a pound illegally parked vehicles or stray animals (7) 16 Covering of ice over a large area, such as the polar regions (6)

17 A late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch (6)

Yesterday’s solutions ACROSS 1 Cheer 4 Merry 8 Christmas 9 Ball 10 Leo 11 Will 14 Cake 15 Fete 19 Also 20 Pew 21 Edit 25 Capricorn 26 Rowdy 27 Early DOWN 1 Crumbs 2 Excel 3 Rare 4 Mime 5 Restive 6 Yearly 7 Asset 12 Sky 13 Hem 14 Cash cow 16 Banker 17 Begin 18 Starry 22 Diner 23 Spry 24 Cone