Times Cryptic Crossword #28626

Times Cryptic · 32 clues with answers and explanations · 2023-06-10

Explanations sourced from Times for the Times

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Across

1 Priestess, northern mother with child endlessly (5)

Def

Priestess,

Answer

MAMBO
4 East German should stop immoral deception (9)

Answer

IMPOSTURE
9 Sea monster in time one hiding argosy's last trace (9)

Def

trace

Answer

SCINTILLA
10 Military title remains in old man's possession (5)

Def

Military title

Answer

PASHA
11 Line on map Charlie ignored travelling from place to place (2,4)

Answer

ON TOUR
12 Accordingly limits sudden fear, having excised right brain part (8)

Def

part

Answer

THALAMUS
14 Pixie, not so daft, provides detailed account (10)

Def

account

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of PIXIE, + NOT + SO = EXPOSITION; definition: "account"

Answer

EXPOSITION
16 Open to an extent, Indian prince in comeback (4)

Def

Open

Type

Reversal

Expl

reverse of RAJA = AJAR; definition: "Open"

Answer

AJAR
19 Creator of dynamite has book coming out for Xmas (4)

Def

Xmas

Answer

NOEL
20 Criminals' life and death situation? (10)

Answer

UNDERWORLD
22 Bishop buzzing with energy in gown (8)

Def

gown

Answer

BATHROBE
23 Irish author's devotee seen in Romanian capital (2,4)

Def

Irish

Answer

LE FANU
26 Doctor round surgery to wilt from tiredness (5)

Def

Doctor

Type

Charade

Expl

DR (abbreviation="Doctor") + O (abbreviation="round") + OP (abbreviation="surgery") = DROOP; definition: "to wilt from tiredness"

Answer

DROOP
27 Defeat, or we prove to be beaten (9)

Def

Defeat,

Type

Anagram

Expl

anagram of ORWEPROVE ("or we prove") [anagram: "beaten"] = OVERPOWER; definition: "Defeat,"

Answer

OVERPOWER
28 Irrepressible soldiers I found in noiseless setting (9)

Answer

RESILIENT
29 Virgin martyr takes engagement rings back (5)

Def

Virgin

Type

Hidden Reversed

Expl

Hidden reversed in "virgin martyr takeS ENGAgement rings back"

Answer

AGNES

Down

1 Removing spikes at the start can make you run poorly (9)

Answer

MISGOVERN
2 Slightly damp Oxonian at first seen in fog (5)

Answer

MOIST
3 Grate temperature rising in fire causes flare-up (8)

Def

Grate

Answer

OUTBURST
4 Unemployed daughters visiting Réunion? (4)

Def

Unemployed

Answer

IDLE
5 One missile-launcher that should get the pulse going (10)

Answer

PEASHOOTER
6 Elastic pressure in fluctuating pulse (6)

Def

Elastic

Type

Anagram, Charade

Expl

anagram of PULSE ("pulse") [anagram: "fluctuating"] + P (abbreviation of "pressure") = SUPPLE; definition: "Elastic"

Answer

SUPPLE
7 Guardsman occasionally seen with officer in star gathering (4,5)

Answer

URSA MAJOR
8 Small space in church given up for Welshman? (5)

Def

Welshman?

Answer

EVANS
13 With no means to pay, second book entry incorrect (5-5)

Answer

STONY-BROKE
15 "Abundant" means the lot, regularly found in addition (9)

Def

"Abundant"

Answer

PLENTEOUS
17 Ways to get round man obstructed by posh Maoists? (3,6)

Def

Maoists?

Answer

RED GUARDS
18 Gentle exercise taken with Alps's top climber (5,3)

Def

climber

Type

Charade

Expl

SWEET (synonym="Gentle") + PE (abbreviation="exercise") + A (first_letter="Alps's") = SWEET PEA; definition: "climber"

Answer

SWEET PEA
21 Launch fitting with a different side indicator? (6)

Def

Launch

Answer

PROPEL
22 Old airman drained double in pub (5)

Answer

BADER
24 What you might see on the Avon, or location on the Nile (5)

Answer

ASWAN
25 "Shut up", author initially told (4)

Def

"Shut

Type

Acrostic, Charade

Expl

PEN (synonym of "author") + T (first letter of "told") [first letter: "initially"]; definition: ""Shut up","

Answer

PENT