February 2009

1-across – Range of words : VOCABULARY

7-across – The product of plants such as rape : OILSEED

8-across – Escapade : CAPER

10-across – Observed : SEEN

11-across – Intervening period : MEANTIME

13-across – Ill repute : INFAMY

15-across – Going up : ASCENT

17-across – Going wrong : ABERRANT

18-across – Entrance to room, house etc : DOOR

21-across – Country bumpkin : YOKEL

22-across – Donkey-like : ASININE

23-across – Plant-like marine creature : SEAANEMONE

1-down – Worth : VALUE

2-down – School for both sexes : COED

3-down – Plan of expenditure : BUDGET

4-down – Scottish monster’s home : LOCHNESS

5-down – : REPRISE

6-down – Plot : CONSPIRACY

9-down – Early form of tape recording : REELTOREEL

12-down – Portable device giving protection against rain etc : UMBRELLA

14-down – Small skin spot : FRECKLE

16-down – Disquiet : UNEASE

19-down – To do with sheep : OVINE

20-down – Open-air swimming pool : LIDO

1-across – Without preparation — unconventional : OFFTHEWALL

7-across – In the vicinity : NEARHERE

8-across – Pound — defeat : BEAT

9-across – Over again : ANEW

10-across – Artwork formed from scraps of paper, photos etc : COLLAGE

12-across – Social gathering : GETTOGETHER

14-across – Nauseous when flying : AIRSICK

16-across – Adjustable part of wing — panic : FLAP

19-across – Spice — club : MACE

20-across – Increase rapidly in size — advocaat and lemonade : SNOWBALL

21-across – Supposed PR expert : SPINDOCTOR

1-down – Musical drama : OPERA

2-down – Zealous : FERVENT

3-down – Pay attention to : HEED

4-down – Express grief about : WEEPOVER

5-down – Defame in writing : LIBEL

6-down – Knife for stabbing : DAGGER

11-down – Soft leather shoe — venomous snake : MOCCASIN

12-down – Stringed instrument : GUITAR

13-down – Utah lib : HALIBUT

15-down – Precipitous : STEEP

17-down – Arctic or antarctic : POLAR

18-down – Proverbially extinct bird : DODO

1-across – Perambulate : WALK

3-across – Occasionally : OFFANDON

8-across – Device providing illumination : LAMP

9-across – Kept woman : MISTRESS

11-across – Depending : CONTINGENT

14-across – Long narrow crests : RIDGES

15-across – Derisive exclamation : YAHBOO

17-across – Icicle-like accumulation of mineral deposits : STALACTITE

20-across – Estrange : ALIENATE

21-across – Desire — deficiency : WANT

22-across – Irritation caused by pollen : HAYFEVER

23-across – Dread : FEAR

1-down – Unqualified competitor given discretionary entry : WILDCARD

2-down – Soft drink made with citrus fruit juice : LEMONADE

4-down – Tasselled edging : FRINGE

5-down – Gate — enact Dante : ATTENDANCE

6-down – Far down : DEEP

7-down – Proboscis : NOSE

10-down – Superficial dabbler in the arts — title at end : DILETTANTE

12-down – Formally renounce throne, power etc : ABDICATE

13-down – Polaris : POLESTAR

16-down – Provide with garments : CLOTHE

18-down – Whip : LASH

19-down – Very small : TINY

1-across – Panel protecting base of indoor wall : SKIRTINGBOARD

8-across – Break — children’s card game : SNAP

9-across – Break in school day : PLAYTIME

10-across – Oaf — heavy shoe : CLODHOPPER

12-across – Deal with — gear : TACKLE

14-across – Still — very cold : FROZEN

15-across – Ball-like remains of plant blown by prairie winds : TUMBLEWEED

19-across – Medical tube to remove waste from body — heart etc : CATHETER

20-across – Pleased : GLAD

21-across – Having a volatile disposition : TEMPERAMENTAL

2-down – Shakespearean tragedy : KINGLEAR

3-down – Fast : RAPID

4-down – Get or make better : IMPROVE

5-down – Get hold of firmly : GRASP

6-down – Canadian province : ONTARIO

7-down – Inclined walkway : RAMP

11-down – Brown sugar : DEMERARA

13-down – Piquant sauce, often tomato based : KETCHUP

14-down – Lever’s pivot : FULCRUM

16-down – Device to measure quantity used of fluid, electricity etc : METER

17-down – Four-wheeled goods vehicle : WAGON

18-down – Secure : SAFE

1-across – Person whose earnings support the family : BREADWINNER

9-across – Instrument for measuring height : ALTIMETER

10-across – Worthless dog : CUR

11-across – Regular drinker : TOPER

13-across – Rest : LIEDOWN

14-across – One making proclamations — harbinger : HERALD

15-across – Indulgence in costly pleasures : LUXURY

18-across – Congenial : AFFABLE

20-across – Vaporised water : STEAM

21-across – Serpentine fish : EEL

22-across – Instantly : LIKEASHOT

24-across – Power derived from the sun : SOLARENERGY

2-down – Rodent — deserter : RAT

3-down – Chief commander of fleet : ADMIRAL

4-down – Loose skin on cockerel’s throat : WATTLE

5-down – Cool courage : NERVE

6-down – Area fenced off — one’s ulcer : ENCLOSURE

7-down – One treating the sick by means of religious belief : FAITHHEALER

8-down – Variety of apple : GRANNYSMITH

12-down – Case for loose paper, drawings etc : PORTFOLIO

16-down – Steal the show : UPSTAGE

17-down – Shout disruptively at performer : HECKLE

19-down – Tree with light soft wood : BALSA

23-down – Old witch-like woman : HAG