The Colossus
ACROSS
1. Inhabited 6. Social event 11. Childbirth nurses 16. Warding off 21. Hotel cleaner 22. Heathen 23. Uncontaminated 24. Fancy variety store 25. Becoming extinct (5,3) 26. Spike heel 27. Kinsman, relative 28. Culinary herb 29. Scalp parasite 31. Computer operator 32. Swirled 36. Exalted 37. Tingling, pins and – 38. London river 41. Vote into office 44. Distinguished 45. Join, – the contest 48. Stimulate creativity in 49. Disastrous, sad 52. University compositions 56. Locked 57. Notoriety 58. Debase 61. US Fall season 62. Intervals, – of time 63. Baton race 64. Lawful, licit 65. Economises, – and saves 66. Recreation 67. Influential politician, elder – 71. Peace prize 73. Gold unit 75. Loudness, cacophony 80. Transmit 82. Imprecise 83. Bunks 85. Hair decoration 86. Short-sighted 88. Meagre 90. Woolshed workers 91. Sat for artist 93. In general 94. Beatle, George – 95. Shake loose 96. Military unit 97. Tiny amount 99. Jeans pioneer, – Strauss 100. Screams 104. Zipper edge 105. Put 106. Corroborative story 107. Fringed cords 111. Port-au-Prince republic 113. Missing in action (1,1,1) 114. Sprocket 115. Necklace fastener 117. Sordid 118. Country, – Rica 121. Omitted to (4’1) 122. Octagon number 125. Public squares 126. US dollar nickname 127. Unfasten 129. Final 131. Earnest request 132. Criticise abusively 135. Mumble drunkenly 136. Engages, – staff 139. Clothed, – in 140. Express regret about 144. Perverse humour 145. Mansion or villa 146. Candle strings 147. Think over 148. Begin, – a conversation 149. Steam burn 150. Bike footrest 152. Lead-in 154. Cease 157. Himalayan snow monster 158. Facing the rising sun 162. Engrave 163. Indifference 166. Successor 167. Frond 169. Enquires 171. Hearing-impaired 172. French Pacific island 173. English county 175. Stormed 176. Michaelmas daisy 179. Earl Grey sachet (3,3) 180. Shrewd 182. Parisian yes 183. Old-style pub 184. Happen next 186. Set right, – a wrong 189. Tribal senior 190. Roughly, – that date 191. Injured with horns 192. Coffee mill 196. Poke with finger 197. Bargain, good – 198. Kenyan capital 199. Muscovites, eg 201. Fetch, – the ball 202. Salaries, annual – 203. Knight’s horse 204. Pre-dinner drink 205. Peeped 208. Man’s formal neckwear (3,3) 210. Dainty 211. Invitation footnote (1,1,1,1) 212. Accept 213. Concludes 215. Jewish temple 219. Debatable matter 221. Exam mark 223. Muscle kneaders 227. Chinese toy-dog breed (4-3) 228. Metal-cutting blade 230. World fairs 231. Incompetent 232. Improves upon 233. Absorb (4,2) 234. Fascinate, enchant 238. Breathe in 239. Obtain as legacy 240. Diatribe 243. Ancient Iran 246. Tense 247. Alternate 250. Flinch, cower 251. Idolise 253. Inventor, Thomas – 256. Upsets, insults 257. Abstain, – from 258. Mouse or rat 262. Gusto 263. Dracula’s title 266. Gallivants 268. American football 269. Tennis umpire’s aide 270. Eclipse, surpass 271. Cafes or bistros 272. Identify 273. Mexican mister 274. Mortgage, home – 275. Goes back over, – steps 276. Recommences 277. Unnecessary 278. From Beirut
DOWN
1. Unhealthily overweight 2. Winged boy archer 3. Coin pouch 4. Flightless birds 5. Harm 6. Strangest 7. Mountaineer 8. Drooping 9. Luxuriousness 10. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (1,1,1,1) 11. Catholic service 12. Meant, – to 13. Pedestrians 14. Crucially 15. Marriage partner 16. Apprehend criminal 17. Swerve 18. Arrive at 19. Colloquial saying 20. Percussion instruments 30. Absolute, – chaos 33. Most compressed 34. Stamp firmly 35. Ridicules 38. Mesmerised states 39. Bidding war 40. Excuses, – from tax 42. Camera glass 43. Wax pencils 46. The N of UNICEF 47. Shady trees 49. Dictatorship 50. Improvise (2-3) 51. Beautiful 53. Picks 54. Fury 55. Military greetings 59. Caught up with (6,2) 60. Flattered to excess 67. Academies 68. Nonprofessional 69. Hug 70. Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece (4,4) 72. Fragrance-free 74. Abbreviating for publication 76. Hinders 77. Sloping typeface 78. Raise 79. Methods 81. Adamant 84. Dilapidated 87. Male Dubliner 89. Plunders 91. Crisp Indian bread 92. Straightaway 98. Destructive hooligan 101. Divide into two 102. Baghdad citizen 103. Pakistan-Afghanistan link, – Pass 108. Shocks 109. Cloud of insects 110. Acquire, – a skill 112. Magic formula 116. Multi-talented athletes (3-8) 119. Bystanders 120. Revolving gate 123. Prickliness 124. Sorrow 128. Relics, the – – Scrolls (4,3) 130. Appoints 132. Used oars 133. Bad habits 134. Speech impediments 137. Harbours 138. Martini garnish 141. Greek fable writer 142. Pass, – legislation 143. This 24 hours 151. Moral principles 153. Roof beam 155. Dodge, – duty 156. Chillier 159. Nigerians, Zambians, eg 160. Striped jungle animals 161. Emitted, – heat 164. Once more 165. Haul strenuously 168. Cast out, – demons 170. Jumping marsupial 173. Optic medication 174. Skirts around 177. Teased cruelly 178. Blushed 181. Having ambitions 185. Unattractiveness 186. Airstrips 187. Cinema for car users (5-2) 188. Wearing away 193. Slant 194. Humiliates 195. Staff schedules 200. Retail supplier 201. Till, cash – 206. Obvious 207. Attired 208. Bewitch 209. Immobility 211. Alleviate, – pain 214. Shattered 216. Hankered 217. Lower leg bracelets 218. Applause 220. Terrific 222. Helps, – criminal 224. Broom wielder 225. Untested 226. Made from clay 229. Electrical power unit 232. Fuzzy picture 235. Radio bulletin 236. Brahma follower 237. Opening 241. Newborns 242. Loss of memory condition 244. Declined, – offer 245. Dream up 248. Laughing scavengers 249. Paint applicator 251. Cherubs 252. Harrowing experience 253. Keen 254. Dolt 255. Séance board 259. Classical musical drama 260. Privileged few 261. Flavour 262. Designated region 264. Singles 265. Midday 267. Of sound mind