CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Firm showing dedication

in large amounts (7)

5 Empty sort of caveat (6) 9 Grasp limited appearance in makeshift shelter (7)

10 Supplant European place

in competition (7)

11 Commercial, nothing more, producing fuss (3)

12 See off noted eccentric

that’s conceited (6-5)

13 Small vegetable with

a glossy look (5)

14 Ribbed fabric, one taken by colleague in affable fashion (9)

16 Engineer traced too to get academic degree (9)

17 Yankee working with outsiders in Kansas for a very long time (5) 19 Briefly quiet in curiously

unlit lane (2,1,8)

22 A first person among royals producing wonderment (3)

23 Revolutionary flag concerning area in African country (7)

24 Pair in international money-making place making mark (7)

26 Struggle to consume shelled food for one with restricted diet (6) 27 Less strong solvent (7)

DOWN

1 Old sword slashed fool

following learner (7)

2 Concealed shop I twice mistook in assignment proving disadvantageous? (8,7)

3 Hooter observed

in low lighting (3)

4 Special circle with old

fellow in parodic work (5)

5 Bert and Vera scattering on bottom of pile of small bones (9)

6 Limit regarding a

type of chicken (5)

7 Medical procedure organised in confines of this growing estate (15)

8 Prime expression of

surprise by actor Darren (6) 12 Refined toy receiving

approval in Asian capital (5) 14 Rate team that’s rejigged

for a fellow student (9)

15 Pastoral poem idly

composed on lake (5)

16 Very hard-working doctor I’ve seen close to medication (6)

18 These people amid a rest changed into knitted garment (7)

20 Remove system of ropes from a French oilproducing facility (5)

21 British poet beginning to

explain upcoming work (5) 25 Some sophisticated

Greek character (3)