THE BIG CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Shine or buff

4 Refuge

8 Go to pieces

12 Soft-shelled turtle

14 Produced eggs

15 Invited visitor

17 Began a golf

game (4,3)

18 Showy decoration

19 Calamitous

23 Secret code

25 Procedure

28 Cancelled

29 Merchant

30 Receive (an offering)

32 Conforms (4,2)

34 Politely

35 Metallic string

38 Courage in adversity

40 Throbbed

41 Packages

44 Place

46 Scandal

48 Send payment for

51 Lacking sight

52 Petty

53 Plait

54 Star sign

55 Nearer

DOWN

1 Office-holder

2 Withdraw

3 Tutored

5 Smelting scum

6 Inland sea

7 The greatest number 8 Sanctimonious

9 Smart: dressed to the —

10 Hugging closely

11 Low and harsh

13 Square block

16 Consommé, e.g.

20 Stage performer (3,6)

21 Eighty in past times

22 Lawfully

24 State leader

26 Debilitates

27 Mention (5,2)

31 Unclaimed mail (4,6)

33 Rapidity

36 Wealthy

37 Throaty

39 Taunt

42 Abel’s brother (Bible)

43 Lathery

45 Greek island

47 Middle Easterners

48 Please reply

49 Large cups

50 Scrabble piece