Crossword

Clues are presented in alphabetical order of their solutions. The solutions have then to be fitted into the grid, jigsaw-fashion.

A pair of unclued lights (three words in total) give an event. Remaining unclued lights, including a pair (three words in total), each bring to mind the same relevant word in one of three different ways.

One unclued light, defined by the title, is a word that can be divided into three words; each of these defines each of three of the other unclued lights.   Across 1    Unsteady in yard, thrust backward (5) 10    Mixture of metals in roof really worked (10, hyphened) 14    Check sun and tide (5) 15    Terms of reference put back (5) 16    Repeated eccentricity suppressed with removal of king (6) 22    Direction to release soft pedal set down in note (8, two words) 23    Denial?

The unclued Across lights become thematic when a suffix is appended. The individual unclued Down lights (one a proper noun) also become thematic when a different suffix is appended; 1 Down consists of three further words which individually become thematic in the same way as the unclued Down ones do. The unchecked letters of all these unclued lights reveal HADDOCKS’ HERB GARDEN LTD. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.

Unclued lights are words from a famous poem whose title will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

One unclued light (four words) is the title of a 40 recorded by 43 (two words). This title forms a cryptic indication of one unclued light, which defines each of the other unclued lights.

The subtraction reveals the link between the unclued lights which saw light then. Three unclued lights consist of two words, and others form four pairs. In addition, a personal announcement is revealed clue by clue, for starters.

Seven clues contain a redundant word, each defining one unclued light. These seven unclued lights all undergo partial 1 across (in Collins) before entry, in a consistent manner. Resulting grid entries are not real words.

Seven unclued entries are all examples of the other. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

The unclued four-letter words can be paired in a particular way to form the remaining unclued lights, one of two words. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.

In ten clues the wordplay leads to the answer plus one extra letter. These letters in clue order give a name (two words) to which are questionably attributed the unclued lights (in Brewer), which make three phrases: one of six words, one of three, one of four (thematically five?).   Across 4    See me in especial trouble, not all at once (9) 10    Confused playwright about to get between the sheets (10) 11    One stranded, pot appearing empty (6) 12    ‘With band in hair’ — poem in neat Scottish (7) 14    From Lincoln, obtain produce (5) 15    Pope is to agitate, forgetting Latin (5) 16    Off course? Just like carrier!

Two unclued lights form the title by which a 38 32 is commonly known. This title’s first word defines one unclued light, and can also be divided into two words, each of which is defined by an unclued light. The title’s second word defines each of the remaining three unclued lights. Ignore one diacritic in an unclued light and one in a clued light.

The unclued lights, (two of two words), are of a kind. Chambers does not give the solution at 12 Across. So as to avoid alternative thematic solutions at 28A, solvers should know that the first letter is the same as the final one.    Across 2    Amblers won’t be adapting military item (13, three words) 12    Reported as irresponsible piano disposal (6, two words) 14    Cure for one at sea (4) 15    Yearn to get control of free shot in hockey (10, two words) 16    Tenements holding ordinary footlights (6) 18    Sayings of one involved in gaol-break (5) 19    Type setter and mason’s assistant?

Unclued lights are six characters from 45 and its author. Five of these undergo 45 in one way before entry; the other two must undergo 45 in another way afterwards (leaving real words). Collins confirms the thematic information.   Across 1    Radical dissent about America’s dirty quality (9) 11    Briefly desiring drug (7) 13    Endlessly long time (4) 14    Apennines loop around from peninsula (13) 15    Loathing crone keeping money (6) 17    Tradesmen are not seen in half a millennium (5) 18    Bird from north, e.g.

Each of fifteen clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell the four-word title of a work by an artist. Answers to clues in italics are to be treated and entered in the grid as indicated by this title; definitions of resulting entries are supplied by unclued lights. Two clued lights, symmetrically opposite each other, form the artist’s name treated as indicated by part of the title; these lights must be shaded as indicated by the rest of the title.   Across 1    Press covering hollow revolutionary fad?

This puzzle is a landmark for D(0)C: his first crossword appeared in The Spectator in the issue dated July 4th 1981 and his puzzles have appeared almost every third week since then. The unclued lights (three of two words) and the others when paired correctly represent initially the total which D(0)C reaches with this puzzle.   Across 7    This week’s theme has nothing in it for me! (3) 11    Channel’s only books (6) 13    Fruit and nuts (7) 15    Capital loss had affected savings accounts, originally (5) 16    Players training in small college court (5) 17    Welcome note during auction (6) 18    Wearing a hat, with a glazed look?

Clockwise round the grid from 16 run the titles of four works (4,4,9,6,1,5,3,5,3,4,6) by a late great 3 (two apostrophes) followed by the 3’s initials. The remaining unclued lights combine to give a further such title (three words in total). Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.

‘21D/14’ (four words in total) is an instruction (in ODQ) with which solvers will comply by inserting the remaining unclued lights. The source of the instruction will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded.

The unclued lights (one of two words) can be resolved into three associated trios which are not the solution to the problem. Solvers have to search the completed grid and then highlight the trio which does so.   Across 11    Maigret’s sidekick has read case in French (5) 12    Those in the band that take some beating (5) 15 The military can stand this (6, two words) 16    Is he blotto permanently?

The same 26 appears six times in 1D. Remaining unclued lights exemplify its different meanings. The 26 will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 7    Chief cycling daily (4) 11    Young man has time for special author (5) 12    Food Victor feeds forces (6) 13    A road alongside hill in Cheshire? (7) 15    Heart of some lady fair (4) 17    Maybe Oxford lecturer has eyepiece with unique cavity (10) 18    Water casks?