Crossword

Ten of the eleven unclued lights are of a kind and consist of singleton of two words, three pairs and a trio. The eleventh unclued is thematic when paired with an anagram of the five highlighted red letters. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe and an accent. Across 4 Talked of mark on potato magazine (9)11 Little girl, outside in the morning, is wandering (5)14 Fabric — some linen? — on inventory (5)15 One clad in extra silk (5)16 Service of diplomat in Serbia (6)21 Difficult situation having coarse flax by joint (8)22 Descent, using a rope, perhaps, taking time (7)24 Still one that’s in the Skoda range (4)25 Beastly noise a problem for calligrapher?

Clockwise round the grid from 11 run, in chronological order, the titles (7,7,7,9,2,8,2,10) of five works by an author whose original name was 25/40/5/16. Solvers must shade the two clued lights that give the author’s nom de plume. Twenty-five special clues contain a definition and a concealed letter mixture of the light. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

Unclued lights (three of two words, two hyphened) have something in common, verifiable in Brewer. Across 4 Everybody agreed to close college immediately (9, three words)11 Look into Republicans’ sentimentality (5)12 Quickly performed the responsibility of guarding Emperor (7, hyphened)14 Advice is rejected for ritual meal (5)15 Elongated figure cast musket (5)16 Irrational row: one sympathises (6)22 Supposed evolutionary force teacher backed in series of notes (7)24 Woman some men idealise (4)27 Do they join torchbearers? (7)28 Grebe’s caution, about to become too large (8)33 South American seeds and coca regularly taken by member of large family (6)34 Like porridge?

  14 which is unclued below, but is clued elsewhere, has to be divided into three components (one a Spanish imperative), each of which is linked with a trio of unclued lights. Across 1 US soldier with Christmas novelty among my low-value ornaments (11) 7/40 Bowler on Anglo-French 10s (6) 11 Fruit, almost a pound, once topped (6) 13 A liberal ruler admits a palace in Spain (7) 17 They never give up being essayists (6) 18 Fuel vessel having head of heater out of commission (5) 20 Wrong about the girl (6) 21 Large rodent, diffident, on borders of Peru!

The unclued lights are of a kind and are entered in the grid in a thematically appropriate manner. Across 11 Alpine mineral popular in pasta (7) 12 On the radio, transmit pitch at sea (5) 14 Mostly irrational, a section of holy book (4) 17 Yam in dough, recipe also from east (9) 20 Senorita paid to dance, taking breath away audibly (12) 22 Performed holding instrument that’s weakened (7) 24 Inactive state, with no middle?

The seventeen entries with definition-only clues are to be treated according to a symmetrically disposed theme which has to be highlighted. Other clues are normal; all enumerations are of entry lengths. Across 1 Bothers about losing, initially, eight pounds (6)7 Help senior NCO when cutting hair (6, two words)11 Wallop maker (10, hyphened) 13 A salt (5) 14 One fetching (5) 15 It, beer, runs over slacks (7)17 Recess (7) 18 One races by whichever French province (6)19 The beginning (4) 22 E.g. Co-op (6, two words) 24 Checking in, and again, interrupting Queen briefly (9, two words)25 Thumbs-ups about Queen Elizabeth’s tunes? (5)26 Remove, e.g.

The unclued lights (individually or four pairs) lead to a word or phrase which includes a thematic component. Across 1 Shetland viol berceuse regularly appearing for Zoroastrians (7)6 New guest admitting the French Dravidian speakers (7)11 Group of eight with leader of orchestra around court (6)14 Audibly criticise Aubrey’s sheep run (5)15 Online greeting accepted in City Road (5, hyphened)16 Peg bringing cheer indoors.

The same word appears as seven headwords in Chambers. Unclued lights (including two pairs and one of three words, one of two) indicate the meaning of six of them. The word (4) will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.

Six unclued entries (three of three words, and one of two words) can be combined to make a quotation (in ODQ), and the remainder combine to reveal its author. Across 11 Fashionable mission deemed impossible ultimately (7)13 Far-reaching lake beside farmhouse (9, hyphened)14 Unhealthy-looking meat snack (5)21 Keen to get drunk in bender (4)23 Sailor avoiding company seafood (7)24 Granny turning over half of Indian bread? (4)25 Dullness — there’s nothing quick about it (7)30 Told US schoolgirl about ground nut (7)31 Cleaner shot in the arm?

The unclued Across lights are of a kind, as are the associated Down ones. Across 1 Friendship revealed by American Dream endlessly renewed (11)7/40 Chubby girl’s crime? (6)13 Harem guards regularly return fuchsias, as if gone astray (7)15 Banker in Berlin spending a lot?

Unclued lights (including one of two words) suggest a section of a sequence whose final member will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.

Unclued lights (five of two words) are of a kind, singly, three pairs and a trio.

The unclued lights (two of two words and one hyphened), individually or as three pairs are of a kind. The red squares, when correctly arranged, reveal an associated name (6,6) which solvers must include when submitting their solution. Across 1 Cut of meat, peas and cole stewed (8)6 Whiteness of church garment at start of ecclesiastical celebration (6)13 Educated woman consumes a dish from India (5)14 Artist speaks, reportedly, to Queen (7)15 Scotsman’s extremely heavy blow (10)20 Bananas and brazils (4)22 Unmarried girls, often distressed, oddly less mad (7)23 Direct approach (4)24 French artist taking tea around one vessel (7)26 Those who are sound asleep?

Thirteen unclued lights are of a kind (all singular, not plural) and confirmed in Chambers. 17 across gives the puzzle’s title (three words). Collins confirms 42A and the OED confirms 5D.

Unclued lights, five of two words and two pairs, have something in common. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.

The unclued lights (five of two words and one of three) should be paired to reveal four expressions verifiable in Brewer. Ignore one accent. Across 10 Plant setter left, it being covered in resin (5)11 Hardy bay tree? Obviously not (6)12 Bioethical problem of 150 willing to participate with 18 (7)16 Central American distributed narcotics – a fool (10, two words)17 Be subject to stress pointlessly (8)20 Purple stonecrop – otherwise almost rosé, in France (5)21 The very nature of German city church (7)22 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have no love for old coins (5)24 Several parishes with services starting mid-week (3)27/18 Positive evidence of porcine acupuncture?

Unclued lights are anagrams of ten of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 9 A model cure fixed skin condition (10)14 Lass bumpkin snubbed (3)16 Prisoner saves rodent a piece of crust (6)17 Found tree blocking highway (5)18 Baseballer’s innings in Somerset city curtailed (5, hyphened)20 Sliding in dicky part of church (7) 22 Having two hubbies is boring – having one also (7)24 G-man always escorting English commando (7)25 Maybe elders and betters relaxed with TB eliminated (5)26 Bare mountain-top, that is to say a high mountain (5)28 Gent checked fine brandless product (7)31 Nobleman with almost green clothes (7)33 Catkin’s Australian? Ridiculous!