MEGA CROSSWORD

“SPEAK ONLY IF IT IMPROVES UPON THE SILENCE.” MAHATMA GANDHI

ACROSS

1. Dazzlingly 6. Stingiest

10. Spicy soft drink (6,4) 15. Scruff

18. Releases (flag) 19. Maddens

20. Slim

22. Pivot

23. Russian empress 24. Crowd

25. Lyric poem

26. Bin contents 28. Stooped

30. Thick ... brick (2,1) 31. Japanese martial arts fighter

32. Press

33. Alleviate

34. Quoted

35. Fellow 37. Spellbound

39. Bank cash dispenser (1,1,1) 40. Head-injury unconsciousness 42. Model, ... Macpherson 45. Escorted

48. Rhyme, Mary Had A Little ...

49. Irish for ‘Ireland’ 50. Food-lover 53. Long-leafed lettuce 54. What?

56. The Divine Miss M, ... Midler

59. Gulp down

61. Show agreement 62. Coagulated milk 63. Brazil’s ... Paulo 64. Charged atom

65. Aft

66. Body pouch 68. Literary pirates

69. You were, I ...

70. Stifled

71. Solicitous 72. Negotiable (1,1,1) 73. Dining in a restaurant (6,3) 74. Add soundtrack to 76. Fielder

78. Severe

80. Follower of Brahma 81. Ducks & weaves 84. Microscope plate 85. Sailor

87. Wise sayings

89. Scarlet & crimson 92. Communicating

94. Became old

96. Overly precise 97. Simulated

98. Differ

100. Averse

101. Pearl-like cereal 104. Results (4,2) 105. Dismayed

107. Loaf 108. Flame-resistant 112. Novel, ... Tom’s Cabin 113. Thrash 115. Innumerable 117. Canine command 118. Bridal banquet 120. Persona ... grata 121. Sexual desire

123. Most delicate 125. Worthless 126. Primitive human, ... man 127. Just a minute, wait a ... 129. Cloth borders

130. Judo grade

131. Yoga floor pad 133. Recount 134. Cantonese lunch, yum ... 136. Awkward

137. Ranked tennis players 140. Enlist

141. Sat nav device (1,1,1) 142. Strong poison 146. Canned fish

147. Respite

148. Delegates

152. Threat, do it or ...! 154. Spiced Indian tea 155. Poet, Edgar Allan ... 156. Competently

157. Until (2,2) 159. Estimate

160. Major Norwegian port 162. Summon

164. African river

165. Meat & three ...

167. Deck material 169. Quizzed 171. Hollywood producer, ... Goldwyn

173. Lone Star state inhabitants 174. Persian 175. Panoramic 177. US/Canadian lake 178. Infuriate

179. Brew

180. Extinct bird

181. Deceit

182. Willing torturers 183. Equilibrium

DOWN

1. Rifles

2. Fast 3. Luxuriousness 4. Computer programs 5. Rambling anecdotes 6. Cattle round-up 7. Accessible

8. Fuss

9. Twists (nose)

10. Ravine

11. Midnight tipple

12. Over the moon 13. Guiding beliefs 14. Planet’s orbiting band 16. Emerged from sleep 17. Circumstances 20. Dealer

21. As a whole (2,3) 27. Sports champions 29. Requires

35. Favours (with presence) 36. Acorns or cashews 38. Ethiopia’s capital, ... Ababa 41. Cantaloupe

43. Slant

44. Emits

46. Magic (5-5) 47. Noisiest

51. Encroach (upon) 52. Disquiet 55. Superman’s cloak 56. Intolerant 57. Commuter vehicle 58. Embodiment 60. Affordability 67. Capped (tooth) 69. Jamming 72. Alternate

75. French stick or sourdough 77. Indigestion 79. Neatening (7,2)

82. Study closely 83. Nominal

86. Trophy

88. Tropical fruit used for jelly 90. Hour expected (1,1,1) 91. CIA operative

92. Acute care ward (1,1,1) 93. Concert tour booking 94. Promos

95. Easter gift

98. Disease carrier 99. Associated

102. Stresses

103. Atlantic or Pacific 104. Outgoing people 106. Burrowing

108. Wine-making process 109. Retracts (statement) 110. Narcotics 111. Groundwork rules 114. Lapse

116. Permits

119. Vex

122. Informal photo 124. Actor, ... Rickman 125. Decipher 128. High-roller’s haunt 130. Actress, Dame Judi ... 132. Ordeal

135. Woe! 138. Disappeared

139. Edicts

141. Shocked inhalation 143. Jamaican music 144. Oil/water mix 145. Arctic chipping tools (3,5) 149. Characteristic symptoms 150. Swallowed

151. Held (grudge)

153. Pâté base 158. Unassertive

161. Slalom competitors 163. Knight’s spears 166. Withdraws 168. Antagonise

170. Brands

172. Positive electrode 173. Nurture

176. Cribs