BLANKOUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 17 – ‘Mild, warm (weather)’ – which yields the word ‘Balmy’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry.

ACROSS 1 Driving force; Oval shape 3 Disorderly crowd; Indulge 5 Milky gemstone; Huge person; Kind of wild cat 7 Expose to danger; Intrinsic element 9 Consequences 11 Distressing; Skilled workman 13 Light from heat 15 Two-piece nightwear; Imperfection 17 Go off target; Mild, warm (weather); At no great distance 19 Popular number puzzle; Famish 21 Starchy milk pudding; Rotted DOWN A Hindu mystic; Mountain lion B Certainty of death C Open square in Spain; Confuse D Sheltered area; Excessively enthusiastic; Chump E Hollow cylinder; American vagrant F Viral disease G Distinctive; Kitchen utensil with broad, flat blade H Perform; Apiary insect I Erase; Puzzled J Ironical K Sole; Cosmetic powder L Tell untruths; Bulb vegetable; Chap M Devotion to God; Diplomat N Percussion instrument O Shaft connecting wheels; Aromatic plant