| Across 1 What results when half a playing card appears in dealing out? (6) 10 Rotten “unches” trapping you at the end? They have little effect (7) 11 Sort of semiconductor and yet freely consuming power (5) 14 Exotic halogen possesses unknown atomic weight, like some crystals (9) 15 Scheme that could be profitable, taking millions upfront (6) 17 Dirk or bent dagger’s no good when tagging tree (7) 18 Maybe cetrimide’s prepared for this site? (6) 19 Noon: is beer, perhaps, about right? (8) 23 Backing event I’m organising will show this (4) 24 Enjoying success? One can in retirement! (4, two words) 26 Bleat about mother coming first (3) 27 Stay in Scotland intoxicates – I stagger somewhat (4) 28 Sounds like one of twelve acted violently (4) 29 Admit it – putting party member first, one scoffed (8) 32 Powerful stroke in snooker concealing trap on the return (6) 33 Sincere about November 8, for instance (8) 37 I suspect it’s an indigo derivative (6) 39 This alkaloid is a tonic to renew one – not! (9) 40 Movable seat in hire car separately trimmed in error (5) 41 Always replacing one in ascent (7) 42 Coffin carriers ne’er absurder when unruly (12) |
Down 1 Cathedral dignitary departs early, avoiding railway north (4) 2 To get ahead, yogurt’s good, taken regularly (5) 3 Curiously sung EP – makes a rise or fall possible (6) 4 Silk rag – this could wrap things up (6) 5 Each getting in behind, cutting in (6) 6 Yeast finally attracts antipodal bats (10, three words) 7 One French guest has switched to new skin preparation (7) 8 Nothing odd to be seen in Ploy’s next feline (4) 9 Organised simple holding account (8) 12 Hills in resort possibly without echo (5) 13 Follower of church leader ended full of confusion (6) 16 Dwells in the empty city in France, not Spain (7) 19 Ripped coat in dancing reel (8) 20 Maintaining contact, state “That hurts!” after a short time (7, two words) 21 Fellow pioneer is reckless to start shooting (8, two words) 22 75% rotation in the opposite direction – I’m first! Who’d copy me? (8) 25 Enclose part of forest where deer may hide (6) 30 From a different era, inn is further lacking in character (6) 31 A trace of Asian civet, surprisingly not extinct (6) 34 Used by hairdresser, in setting? (5) 35 Better when the leader goes and clothes horse, perhaps … (5) 36 … spotted old one beside river (4) 38 Wooden balls roll back and stop at first (4) |
To
enter this competition send your solution in list format, plus the
words formed from first letters (4, 7) to me at derekharrison@yahoo.com
before the 8th January 2009. The first correct entry picked will
receive a copy of Chambers XWD, a dictionary of crossword
abbreviations, which has been donated by the publishers.