THE CROSSWORDS

Across

1 Able to make the top ten? (6)

4 Worn thin perhaps so it’s included free (6,2) 9 Eat out on a badly run vessel (3,3)

10 Loans made by suitors (8)

12 A verbal comeback (4)

13 A bench to put in the sun (5)

14 A major land mass though it could be minor (4) 17 Interpretation which requires some building up (12)

20 Exalted status of one on a rostrum? (4,8) 23 Dance and swim (4)

24 This may light up the game (5)

25 Request to remain true to type? (4)

28 An outrage otherwise concealed by ill will (8) 29 Where the Ark went fast (6)

30 Get hard ideas changed or reject them? (3,5) 31 He helps to make fitted wardrobes (6)

Down

Gilbertian virtue (8)

2 It is involved with change in education (8)

3 A Roman emperor in a manner of speaking (4) 5 Not a dry subject but dictators shy from it (12) 6 Shape of eggs at first light (4)

7 Most delightful form of insect (6)

8 As a sun resort it’s capital (6)

11 Resolute due to threats perhaps (12)

15 Most airlines provide this flight (5)

16 Beat the weight (5)

18 State carriage? (8)

19 Shaken and upset (8)

21 Arranges books (6)

22 News of an explosion (6)

26 Novelist makes friends in France (4)

27 A free description of desert (4)

Across

1 Knife used as weapon (6) 4 Summary (8)

9 Capricious humour (6) 10 Remain in hiding (3,5) 12 Tranquil (4)

13 Do without (5) 14 Principal (4) 17 Instinctive habit (6,6) 20 Offer standard to emulate (3,2,7)

23 A common fund (4) 24 Bringing ruin (5) 25 Tolerate (4)

28 Brilliantly creative (8) 29 Cheap and gaudy (6) 30 Very careful (8)

31 A light shoe (6)

Down

1 Dejected (8)

2 Solid urban traffic jam (8) 3 Comfort (4)

5 Remedy a deficiency (6,3,3) 6 Ebb and flow (4)

7 Portent (6)

8 Memento of victory (6)

11 In perfect condition (5,2,1,4)

15 Table of contents (5) 16 Imposing display (5) 18 Magnificent (8)

19 Act of treachery (8)

21 To leap (6)

22 Deteriorate (6) 26 Calamitous (4) 27 Indonesian island (4)