Crossword

CLUES No. 956 ACROSS:

1. A ceremonious public dinner. (7) 5. Showing a high opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, or superiority. (5) 8. Join or sign up for a course of study. (5) 9. These are used for cleaning the barrel of a rifle or other small firearms. (7) 10. Exploded like a volcano. (7) 11. Any of various fragrant resins obtained from tropical trees. (5) 12. Appeals or entreats earnestly. (6) 14. The right of first choice belonging to the eldest. (6) 17. Chronically corrupting or disrupting condition. (5) 19. An occupation, hobby, or pastime. (7) 22. Become smaller or lose substance. (7) 23. Quick or prompt to act or respond. (5) 24. Raves. (5) 25. Continued after a break. (7)

DOWN:

1. An accent, placed over a vowel to indicate that it is of short duration. (5) 2. Feed and protect. (7) 3. Lacking light, dim. (5) 4. A speech of violent denunciation. (6) 5. Treats with extreme or excessive indulgence. (7) 6. Form of oxygen with peculiar odour. (5) 7. Predetermined, usually inevitable, course of events. (7) 12. Take wrongfully, as by pillage, robbery, or fraud. (7) 13. Laughs at in scorn or contempt. (7) 15. Residual deposits of soil, dust, and sand produced by the action of the wind. (7) 16. Come into sight. (6) 18. Metal or wooden wedge used by printers to lock up a form within a chase. (5) 20. Stratagems. (5) 21. Carried. (5)