February 2009

1-across – Mollusc — cornfield weed : COCKLE

4-across – Musician : PIPER

7-across – Believe : CREDIT

8-across – Basis of antifreeze : GLYCOL

9-across – Flightless bird : KIWI

10-across – Putin’s people : RUSSIANS

12-across – Not simple : COMPLICATED

17-across – Precious stone : AMETHYST

19-across – Shove : PUSH

20-across – Wanting eggs : BROODY

21-across – False : UNTRUE

22-across – Pour fat over : BASTE

23-across – Egyptian deity : OSIRIS

1-down – Appertaining to the heart : CARDIAC

2-down – Silvery metal, Cd : CADMIUM

3-down – According to the precise meaning of words : LITERALLY

4-down – Animal skins : PELTS

5-down – Parcel : PACKAGE

6-down – Enjoy greatly : RELISH

11-down – Pruning tool : SECATEURS

13-down – Burdensome : ONEROUS

14-down – Seller of information on racecourse etc : TIPSTER

15-down – Talk over : DISCUSS

16-down – African fruit tree : BAOBAB

18-down – Barrier of shrubs etc : HEDGE

5-across – Commerce that aims to support Third World producers : FAIRTRADE

8-across – Amphibian : FROG

9-across – Theological college : SEMINARY

10-across – Small ape : GIBBON

11-across – Observation : REMARK

13-across – One who gives proof of genuine regard : FRIEND

15-across – See 13 : INNEED

16-across – Prehistoric : PRIMEVAL

18-across – Dismissal – sherry! : SACK

19-across – Extensive : PROLONGED

1-down – Real and substantial : TANGIBLE

2-down – Author of Notes From a Small Island : BRYSON

3-down – First coat – book : PRIMER

4-down – Norse god : ODIN

6-down – Based on whims or irrelevancies : ARBITRARY

7-down – Morbid interest in sex etc : PRURIENCE

12-down – Member of government or clergy : MINISTER

14-down – Former French penal colony : DEVILS

15-down – See 14 : ISLAND

17-down – : MIRE

1-across – Abnormally plentiful : SUPERABUNDANT

8-across – Place where pictures are exhibited : GALLERY

9-across – Addition to verdict : RIDER

10-across – Renown : FAME

11-across – Impure : UNCHASTE

13-across – Declaim aloud : RECITE

14-across – Gain : PROFIT

17-across – Peevish : PETULANT

19-across – Husks of corn : BRAN

21-across – Group of eight : OCTET

22-across – Indefinitely large number : UMPTEEN

24-across – Come into one’s hands illegally : FALLOFFALORRY

1-down – Droop : SAG

2-down – Controversial speech or writing : POLEMIC

3-down – Tall marsh grass : REED

4-down – On the other side : BEYOND

5-down – Not in or from the south : NORTHERN

6-down – South American range : ANDES

7-down – Central Asian region : TURKESTAN

10-down – Secure from burning : FIREPROOF

12-down – Dagger : STILETTO

15-down – Refrain : FORBEAR

16-down – Swallow up : ENGULF

18-down – Sum : TOTAL

20-down – Precious stone : OPAL

23-down – Negative : NAY

5-across – Motto of the cautious : SAFETYFIRST

7-across – Stratagem : PLOY

8-across – Ancient city and battle : PHILIPPI

9-across – Writes badly : SCRAWLS

11-across – Residue after felling : STUMP

13-across – Bring together : UNITE

14-across – Of immediate importance : CRUCIAL

16-across – : WHOLEHOG

17-across – Pal : CHUM

18-across – Type of bat : PIPISTRELLE

1-down – Doubtful : IFFY

2-down – Apply with flecks or dabs : STIPPLE

3-down – Attach : AFFIX

4-down – Having creative skills : ARTISTIC

5-down – Component of all integrated circuits : SILICONCHIP

6-down – Device for finding length of cloth etc : TAPEMEASURE

10-down – Horned animal : ANTELOPE

12-down – Boy’s name meaning watcher : GREGORY

15-down – Pursuit : CHASE

17-down – Tranquil : CALM

1-across – Relative : SISTER

4-across – Cymbeline’s daughter : IMOGEN

8-across – Freshwater fish : ROACH

9-across – One journeying to shrine etc : PILGRIM

10-across – Tungsten : WOLFRAM

11-across – Bewitching incantation : SPELL

12-across – Street symbolising British government : WHITEHALL

17-across – Stupid : CRASS

19-across – As young as can be : NEWBORN

21-across – Circle identifying aircraft : ROUNDEL

22-across – Characteristic : TRAIT

23-across – Fortified wine : SHERRY

24-across – Crusoe’s man : FRIDAY

1-down – Astute : SHREWD

2-down – Ingest – bird : SWALLOW

3-down – Solvent – anaesthetic : ETHER

5-down – Girl’s name meaning bee : MELISSA

6-down – Prickly heath shrub : GORSE

7-down – Videlicet : NAMELY

9-down – Scarlet flower : PIMPERNEL

13-down – Such trading is illegal : INSIDER

14-down – Garment used eg in ballet or yoga : LEOTARD

15-down – He flew too near the sun : ICARUS

16-down – Very difficult – complex : KNOTTY

18-down – Deep blue : AZURE

20-down – Essential liquid : WATER