Fieldfare

The unclued lights are of a kind and may be easy to see. A diacritical mark should be ignored in each of two clued solutions.

Five unclued lights are connected with one partner, four with the other. Another links both.

Unclued lights provide three definitions each of a whole word and of its two syllables. Solvers should highlight the word where it appears on this page. Across 1    In clinic came up against a barman (7)6    Walker and cyclist on stone (7)12    Polishes round back of altar in hallowed places (7)14    Bird in casserole with two eggs?

The nine individual unclued lights form three sets of three, each set related to a theme word in a different way. The theme word is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted. Across 5    Most appropriate page in a quiz (6)10    I’m praised for moving to retain university committee (10)12    Queen is taking a line to get tough (6)13    City that lies between Pakistan and Bulgaria (8)16    Bug is hanging on the wall (5)17    In recess, is earth to be put on dead sheep? (7)25    Bird’s leg bone stripped (3)26    In wood, cat chewed energy biscuit (7)28    One top player receiving kiss, no longer a man?

The unclued lights form five pairs, as suggested by the title. Across 6 Fashion blunted by useless needle (6) 10 Sister in action in a moving church feast (12) 13 Lily and Len backing boss (7) 16 Youth turns to another who’s idle (4) 17 Scarper from unstable ice-sheet (6,2) 21 Underclothes hang loosely? Twaddle (8) 23 Push in suggestion commonly vulgar (7) 25 Caledonian couple unwrapping software (3) 26 Being philosophical, making three points (3) 29 Goddess briefly so pink (8) 34 United to play this piece?

The unclued lights (including two pairs, one of which is three words, and one single light of three words) are of a kind, as found pleasingly in Brewer. Ignore three accents and one apostrophe.

Unclued lights can be grouped into three triplets, each associated in a different sense with a keyword to be discovered, of which the title suggests a topical example   Across 7 Assembly line described by writer I don’t know (6) 12 Smaller flower is rarity, but gets propagated (9) 13 Dido laughed, admitting mistaken views (5) 15 Magic as hospital overcomes shortage (9, two words) 16 Buttress, stone, penetrated by Edmund (6) 20 Celebrate about weed doing farrier’s work (7) 21 Do a Chinese for Mormon perhaps (6) 24 Loose women once simpered stupidly (8) 26 One terrible noise echoing from nests (4) 27 One can’t write in this good book (3) 29 One studying Rabbit, Run (4) 32 With restrain.

43 (two words) created 1A (four words) and 3 10 14 (seven words). The latter inspired 17 30, whose work introduced the egregious 18. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 9 The first three letters of ‘skunk’ (4) 11 Duke ordering wild heroics (9, hyphened) 12 Beat wife and cover up (4) 15 Mark has no time for heart drug (5) 16 Satan, not dead, is this (4) 20 Something greasy my big cat’s brought back (7, two words) 21 One entitled to insist on touring boundaries of estate (7) 24 Engineers extra base for one railing (7) 25 Pity quiet soul (5) 26 One boring gold plate returned (5) 27 Element of stupid-sounding trick (7) 31 Green Knight painting rejected?

Unclued lights form a progressive set, plus the name of the speaker.   Across 1 Talk shortly about present-day veg (7, two words) 6 Secure trim accessory (7, two words) 11 Harp on about poor child (6) 12 Sun already, so?

A nine-word phrase (in five unclued lights, two used twice) opens a work for 1A (three words) by 8 (two words). The work inspired the other two unclued lights.   Across 9 A horse’s bridle eventually just as old (7, three words) 11 Outrageous, a chimney turning half black (7) 12 Army team endlessly tense in unofficial lodging (5) 14 US herb and Pacific salmon: can it (6) 16 Rich American left in terminal (5) 21 Are struggling with debt?

The unclued lights can all be preceded by OLD which is the clued solution at 49 Across. ‘Crocks’ at 5 Across was also acceptable.

Unclued lights (one of two words, the others paired) are of a kind.

Clockwise round the peri-meter go two lines of a topical verse, thirteen words altogether. (The barred off square divides the lines.) The other unclued lights are some possible collectors’ items.

The unclued lights have something in common. None is a real word.   Across 1 Promoted male only editor eclipsed (8) 8 Four blood groups maybe, or one group (4) 11 In brief affair, my girl headed off cutting turf (12) 12 Force president to accept Liberal myth (5) 14 Cheerless and tense inside drink factory (7) 15 Special order for Scots post (5) 17 Palm stem hollow? It floats (5) 18 Dotted i missing from coil?

The unclued lights (one of two words), when paired, have something in common. Across 5 Fly eggs not at all good on head (6)9 Parasite, one not dead, by coincidence (10, two words)14 Stick one swears mildly by (3)16 A chant newly set Hebrew scripture (6)17 One worn by Virginia? Excellent (5)18 Squirted with water, prophet almost died (5)20 Medical specialist is in old sect (7)22 A way to travel, by bike?

In this anniversary year, unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. Ignore four accents. Across 1 Regularly curse wee coming back through opening in baby’s clothing (9)6 Foreigner married in Kent (5)11 Irritable, graze on a little yoghurt (8)13 Problem walking beside British Colonel (5)14 Land comedian at hospital with temperature (6)15 Ruined at start of quiz, leading pair lost (6)17 Among papers, one is not secure (4)19 More weird mutant reindeer leaving North Dakota (6)23 Staple books at work turned over (6)24 With tool I damaged can opening fruit (9)30 Working on poker, retired from racing?

31 3 worked for the 43 of 21. The 43 of 34 got him for 24 35 and sent him to 28 (two words). He finally gave in to 15 (two words). Ignore three accents and one apostrophe. Across 1 Fish barrel, a deep sound from it (8, two words) 6 Gambling cartel admits Poles (6, two words) 12 Headlight simpler to repair with man involved (10, two words) 13 Captivated European by force almost (5) 14 Forward in match? (7) 16 Pretentious nobody can butt (7) 20 Little bird beginning to eat at once (4) 22 Letters: one from this valley comes first (7) 23 Spring festival sacred for listeners (4) 26 I’d back player of old instrument?

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?

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