Doc

The theme word is KING and the pairs are 4/41, 14/1A, 19/27, 34/16 and 38/24.   First prize C.V. Clark, London WC1 Runners-up C.S.G.

Having solved the puzzle, solvers are required to highlight a 2x2 square which contains the four letters of the otherwise unclued theme word. This theme word can be paired with five of the unclued lights. The resulting pairs are then defined by the remaining five unclued lights (two of two words), all of which can be verified in Brewer.   Across 9    Islands forming ring — possibly a nice area (7) 11    Tail of forsaken kangaroo was not once in cell (7) 12    Dictator arrests leader of army violently (5) 17    Mac’s own muslin.

The perimeter squares yield six theme-words in order, though any one of them can come first. The remaining unclued lights (two individually and a pair) reveal three more theme words. Solvers are asked to highlight in the appropriate colour a final two-word theme-word hidden in two rows in the completed grid.

The unclued lights are US STATE CAPITALS. First prize Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants Runners-up John M.

The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer among other reference books. Elsewhere, ignore one grave accent.

The unclued Across lights (two of two words) are of a kind, as are the unclued Down ones, all verifiable in Brewer 19th edition.

The unclued Across lights are of one linguistic kind and the unclued Down lights are of another, all of which solvers must figure out.   Across   1    Busy person squeezing scab on carpet (6) 7    Cilla’s out gathering what Novello suggested (6) 12    Ends of the line abolished at privatisation? (9) 13    Come down from window (5) 15    Club official, more confident following adjustment of rate (9) 16    Persistent seabird seen during mid-week (6) 20    Threatening youths broadcast ‘Which of you gets the chop?

The unclued lights (one of two words) can be preceded by the same word which is hidden in the completed grid. Solvers must highlight this word appropriately. All resulting phrases are verifiable in Brewer. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across   1    Ought to be quiet when dreadfully loud (6) 7    Elysian areas of knowledge? (6) 12    Board for one in mental hospital? (9) 15    Governor’s gun brought back by a hill (9) 16    War god with worker bully (6) 20    Porridge making good man throw up (7) 21    Could be guaranteed this is treeless country?

The unclued lights (three of two words), individually or paired, are of a kind, with 1 Down as a plural. Two of these unclued lights do double duty to reach the number indicated in the title. Ignore one apostrophe and, elsewhere, an acute accent. Chambers does not confirm 25A.   Across   1    What a professional soldier might expect to earn?

One ‘unclued’ light, as the title suggests, can be paired (on one occasion twice) with each of the other unclued lights, (one of two words), all verifiable in Brewer. Alphabetical order takes priority in the unclued solution at 36A.

The unclued lights (one of two words, and one of three) when preceded by the same word (which has to be discovered) reveal words (in one case, a non-word which is almost a foot) or phrases all of which are listed in Brewer, with some also listed in Chambers. Ignore all hyphens.   Across 7    Losing core of drive, rant and go off line (6) 11    Not starting continental deer, say, or veal dish (10) 13    Sudden increases of bitterns’ calls (5) 14    Employing you, I hear, even in espionage (5) 15    Sign away big business arrangement — there are the overheads!