The National Crossword

ACROSS

3 Be merciful to

6 Undermine

8 Abnormally fat

9 Prepare for publication

10 Letting contract

12 Copy

14 Select group

17 Pickling medium 19 Found out

20 For each

21 Nidus

22 Revision

24 Bombards heavily

27 Fish

29 Headwear

30 Shouting encouragement 32 Daydream

34 Insurgent

35 United

36 Snake

37 Church section

38 Lubricated

39 Distress signal

40 Chemical compound

DOWN

1 Intimidated

2 Repeat from memory

3 Pick out

4 Dwells

5 Biblical garden

6 Raised platforms

7 Look narrowly

11 Affirm with confidence

13 Minesweeping device

15 Make longer

16 Having le a will

18 Person of refined taste

23 Determines 25 Birds

26 Cast off

27 Extreme fear

28 Bite gently

31 Open space in forest

32 Decays

33 Utter wildly