A cryptic crossword again this week. In ‘Toblerone’, the unclued lights have something in common. You can work on the interactive version by clicking on this LINK that takes you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  Felt hat in rickety brougham not accepted (7)

    5  Dad with fruit (5)

    8  A way mostly in an opening passage in an artificial environment (7, 2 words)

    9  Right of data transmission around king (5)

  10  Bit of intestine of independent capricious mule (5)

  11  Look, food for pigs, rubbish! (7)

12/14 Unclued light (6,6)

  17  Unit of power and water needed for artist (7)

  19  Vulgarly crass holding unknown worthless little Scottish thing (5)

  22  Nest, see! with trimmed bird back in it (5)

  23  Prelude in the Northern Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (7)

  24  Fat woman holding recipe (5)

  25  Evil spell a detective almost linked to a set of six (7)

Down

    1  Unclued light (5)

    2  Shift round international film (5)

    3  Played fast and high, with time, space and bits of polish (7, hyphen)

    4  Unclued light (6)

    5  A soft saddle, note, for Father (5)

    6  In Capri so unusually dull (7)

    7  Unclued light (7)

  12  Unclued light (7)

  13  Disorganised terrace for one who provides food for a party (7)

  15  Charge on ground – see student regularly turns up with weapon! (7, 2 words)

  16  Unclued light (6)

  18  Pulverized Yemen’s hostile force (5)

  20  Adjudge conflict surrounded by publicity (5)

  21  Unclued light (5)

Here is last week’s solution:

General Knowledge this week. If you prefer to work on the interactive version of the crossword or to print a pdf., click on this LINK which will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  The largest island in the West Indies (4)

    3  Tablets placed horizontally on top of the capitals of columns as aids in supporting the architraves (8)

    9  Small Arctic whale the male having a long spiral ivory tusk (7)

  10  Infections of the skin or nails caused by fungi and appearing as itching circular patches (5)

  11  An annual award for achievements in motion picture production and performance (7,5)

  13  An outlet for secondhand goods at reduced prices in Australia (2,4)

  15  A city in northwestern Syria (6)

  17  Meteorological item used to observe air currents (5,7)

  20 Club consisting of a heavy stick (often bamboo) bound with iron; used by police in India (5)

  21 A pear-shaped tropical fruit with green or blackish skin and rich yellowish pulp enclosing a single large seed (7)

  22 Revealing excessive self-confidence; reaching for the heights (8)

  23 Displeasing to the senses (4)

Down

    1  Aromatic bark used as a spice (8)

    2  A mountainous republic in southeastern Asia on the Bay of Bengal (5)

    4  The second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I; was executed on a charge of adultery (1507-1536) (6)

    5  A breed of sheep (8,4)

    6  A terrace or garden oriented to the south and protected from cold winds (7)

    7  A fraudulent business scheme (4)

    8  Someone who claims to be able to read your character from the shape of your skull (12)

  12  Edible European fish with a black oval mark on each side (4,4)

  14  A Chinese breed of small dog similar to a Pekingese (4,3)

  16  Come into possession of (6)

  18  Large long-armed ape of Borneo and Sumatra having arboreal habits (5)

  19  Person from eastern Europe or Asian Russia (4)

Here is last week’s solution:

The seven unclued lights were Cantons of Switzerland where French is the main language or is spoken by lots of inhabitants.

The clues in this crossword are cryptic. If you wish to work on the interactive version or download a pdf., you must click on this link which will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Seven unclued lights have something in common.

Across

    1  Unclued light (4)

    3  Unclued light (8)

    8  Dish of composer with middle of taties for seconds (9)

  10  Regularly urge on to go fast once (3)

  11  Unclued light (5)

  12  Unclued light (6)

  14  Bullfighter nonsense in women’s trousers (8,5)

  17  Unclued light (6)

  19  Stock farm with no recipe for Chili pepper (5)

  22  Unit and grade essentially (3)

  23  Unclued light (9)

  25  Roots lie abnormally in hormone (8)

  26  Unclued light (4)

Down

    1  Furiously I object; a supporter of Scottish kings! (8)

    2  Spirit or US hearsay (5)

    4  African form of pop music’s warped air (3)

    5  Element right in the middle of a gift (5)

    6  In Scotland not ploughed up twisted run vine (7)

    7  French glove producing Scots yawn (4)

    9  Conclusion – a type of fatty acid (5)

  12  Superficial appearance of a deceptive explanation (5)

  13     Determined in the past, I lassoed inappropriately (8)

  15  Mangled burs had a rodlike sponge spicule (7)

  16  Vegetable and Chinese fruit (5)

  18  Owner initially changed machine for removing bristles from barley (5)

  20  Old peasant endlessly produced short surplice (5)

  21  Pasta in chorizo but not Chinese or Italian (4)

  24  In Italy one popular game (3)

Here is last week’s solution:

If you wish to work on the interactive version, click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

7  A man who has sex with and is supported by a woman (6)

8  An informal term for a youth or man (6)

9  This month in short (4)

10  Pontianac, a substitute for gutta-percha (8)

11  A piece of soft absorbent paper used as a disposable handkerchief (7)

13  The conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group (5)

15  A constellation on the equator to the east of Taurus; contains Betelgeuse and Rigel (5)

16 Fundamental principles or practices (7)

18  Rock that is collapsing or unstable (3-5)

19  The piece of land on which something is located (4)

21  Ill once (6)

22  A heavy creamy-coloured paper resembling parchment (6)

Down

1  Scots iron (4)

2  A tray for passing a decanter round the table (6-7)

3  Starched with rice or millet gruel (7)

4  Pulse (5)

5  Unmoved by feeling (13)

6  A dissident in France (8)

12  Strips of bacon used as trimmings (8)

14 Trondheim’s river (7)

17  Everything that exists anywhere (5)

 20 A journey or route all the way around a particular place or area (4)

Here is last week’s solution (unclued lights were novels by Jane Austen and the Author herself):

Ten unclued lights (one of two words) form a group (two single words, two of two words and two of three words with one word doing double duty). The eleventh unclued light was responsible for the others.

Across

    1  Unclued light (10)

    7  Unclued light (3)

    9  A religious leader keeping old company and clipping the ends of words (7)

  11  British (English) deli mixed substance that can be eaten (6)

  12  Unclued light (5)

  13  Teenager transformed into turncoat (8)

  14  Swan feather (3)

  15  Unclued light (9)

  17  Unclued light (11)

  21  In the past grievous US tractor magnate (5)

  23  One kid’s tattered soft leather (7)

  26  Unclued light (9,4)

  28  I have been told it’s European spaces (7, 2 words)

  29  Shelter first class hog rat (5)

  31  A deacon gets quite different collections of short tales (11)

  34  Shells unfortunately fluster us (9)

  38  Put back notes (3)

  39  Unusual combat op in recruit training centre (8, 2 words)

  40  Exclamation of surprise – a myth put another way (5, 2 words)

  41  Sufficiently English name of unknown German husband (6)

  42  Meat dish lab returned in time (7)

  43  Mythical Himalayan creature with tail chopped besides (3)

  44  Unclued light (10)

Down

    1  Seized and took a casual sleep (6)

    2  Poet’s rumble in guts of gastro intestines (4)

    3  Fantastic hero – one who does the weeding (4)

    4  After personal assistant returns, brief research (5)

    5  Charge nurse wrapping knee (4)

    6  One girl converted into star (5)

    7  Nomogram carried back in a US shopping bag (4)

    8  Active, abounding with offspring, beginning with daughter rather than son (5)

  10  Warm up in advance a one time favourite, holding her back (7)

  15  Essentially bluish grey (5)

  16  No longer used, lost heart and stopped working (4)

  17  Unclued light (5)

  18  Mid month before the end of August, that is (5, 2 words)

  19  American fellow lines cotton seed (4)

  20  One task creating tie-died fabrics (5)

  22  See! I’m inside a large car (4)

  24  Special areas of land in Orkney, not right old marshy spots (5)

  25  One island alder, running wild, belonging to a family of plants (7)

  27  US law officers fostered sleaze primarily (4)

  30  Unclued light (6)

  31  Unclued light (5)

  32  Manner of fashioning regular quips for US joker (5, hyphen)

  33  At most in Italy, confusion of Pauli or Paul I (5, 2 words)

  35  Support foundation (4)

  36  Goat-like animal, a backward rodent possessing head of a hamster (4)

  37  Unclued light (4)

  38  Asian from Haiti endlessly in confusion (4)

Here is last week’s solution:

Here is the first General knowledge crossword of the year. Unclued lights contain an exhortation and a greeting. If you prefer to work on the interactive version, click on this LINK.

Across

1  A laundry service in which only basic washing is done (7)

5  Any of many long-legged birds that walk in water in search of food (5)

8  Place in a grave or tomb (5) 

9  Demure (7)

13  In a disobedient or naughty way (13)

15  A double pronged piece of metal used to hold women’s hair in place (7)

16  Scandinavian punch made of claret and aquavit with spices and raisins and orange peel and sugar (5)

17  A home-made firework – a cone of damp gunpowder (5)

Down

1  A thorny stem or twig (5)

2  To start making an effort (3,2,4,4)

3  Derived by logic, without observed facts (1,6)

4  The lowest string of the lyre or its tone (6)

5  To be oppressive or burdensome (5)

6  A sales outlet offering goods at a reduced price (8,5)

7  Present a settlement for a second time (2-5)

10  Place to buy intoxicating drink (3,4)

11  Slang for a jail (7)

12  Steeple hat with a veil hanging from it worn by French women in the 15c (6)

14  A German huntsman (5)

Here is last week’s solution:

Here is a cryptic crossword, the last of the year. If you wish to work on the interactive version or download a pdf, click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

 1  Space age introducing new measurement of series of characters (6)

4  Boast in Australia of a Scottish spree (5)

8  Unhappily see agonising development of blood vesssels in a tumor (12)

9  Proclaim reformed zealot so pi (10)

12  Child’s young fish dropping tail for good (5)

14  Member of lowest Japanese class returned worried (3)

15  Plant professing to be religious (3)

17  Neo-creationist holding sheath (5)

20  Later compact disc echo brought back figure of speech (10)

21  Flag fastener redeployed in group assigned to assist in planning military policy (7,5)

22  Heavens! English getting into winter sports equipment! (5)

23  Old confused tales relating to skeleton (6)

Down

 1  Exceptionally I lease oil palms (6)

2  Cargo boat bringing back bit of cloth and weapon (6)

3  Google in charge strangely of the science relating to the structure of the Earth’s crust (8)

5  Char kelp differently in dumplings served in soup (8)

6  Turn in time to pass pleasantly including sound of snoring (7)

7  Incorrectly enter annual income (5)

10  Steak – Eastern special, consumed by the sailor man (5,3)

11  Absurd to Scots, accepting unknown ear swellings (8)

13  Peculiar keypads, place where customer checks out (7 hyphen)

16  Increase then cut down antelope (5)

18  Tell about deceased (6)

19  Cunning contrived fault with a bit of reason incorporated (6)

Here is last week’s solution:

General Knowledge again this week. If you prefer to work on the interactive version, click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  Remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line (7)

    5  Money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage (5)

    8  Little helpers (6,7)

    9  Unit of length of thread or yarn (3)

  10  Annual festival (9)

  12  The central area in a building; open to the sky (6)

  13  Pants for casual wear (6)

  15  Acknowledgments or expressions of good will (9)

  16  Continuous portion of a circle (3)

  18  Warship intended for combat (4,2,3,4)

  20  Irish poet and playwright whose plays are based on rural Irish life (1871-1909) (5)

  21  Chooses not to consume (7)

Down

    1  An upright tripod for displaying something (5)

    2  Burlesque ironical buffoonery as a cover for serious satire (13)

    3  Worthless in the US (2-7)

    4  Put up with something or somebody unpleasant (6)

    5  Long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix (3)

    6  The modern form of quantum theory; an extension of quantum mechanics based on Schrödinger’s equation (4,9)

    7  Eludes, especially in a baffling way (7)

  11  Protective coverings over or beside a wheel to protect the upper part of a vehicle from mud (9)

  12  Armour plates that protect the chest; the front parts of a cuirass (7)

  14  Of or relating to two people who are married to each other (6)

  17  Any of various plants of the family Cruciferae with edible leaves that have a pungent taste (5)

  19  Used of a single unit or thing; not two or more (3)

Here is last week’s solution, bringing you Christmas Greetings from GenevaLunch:

A cryptic crossword this week. If you pefer to work on the interactive version or download a printable pdf of the crossword, you should click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

  1  Despots accepting advance for silk dresses (6)

  5  Shakespeare’s resolved predicament when left out (5)

  9  Bobbin cleaner contains old broad linen tape (5)

10  Price before artist returns to appear with other A-listers (2-4)

11  Brittle lecturer getting into little quarrel (5)

13  Call for attention in front of the French railway commodities of a well owner (6)

15  Answer concerning change of direction (6)

16  Plastic film brought back for South African fruit (5)

17  Nuts to supply with a long upright pole (4)

19  In confusion Grieg sent salutations (9)

21  Strangeness maintaining bit of hereditary material (4)

27  Area in Shetland with new acreage for mallow plant (5)

28  Miry in the highlands, bright admitting endless sun (6)

29  Necessity of Aberdeen half back to remain without change (4-2)

30  Enclose a side issue near the house (5)

31  Sincere, made of soft material (6)

32  Unusual icons for an heir (5)

33  Sweltering, we return in a filthy place (5)

34  Cooks with water vapour minced meats before start of supper (6)

Down

  1  Month of chaotic international stir (5)

  2  Poets scorch with invective unrestrained chats (5)

  3  Appeal of arranged laurel (6)

  4  Real brevity doubtfully capable of being regained (11)

  5  I still point suspiciously to an artist with a dotty style (11)

  6  Followers of a religion I censure (5)

  7  Special girl (Hebrew princess) returning to trouble constantly (6)

  8  Critically examine streets for appointed meeting places (6)

12  Sports with cold muscle (3)

13  Tangoes appallingly in full view of the audience! (2-5)

14  An important date half rubbed out (3)

18  Queerly sung in the languages spoken by Bantu-speaking peoples (6)

19  Manager in Geneva with money for lease of property (6)

20  Nuisance is removed to give a subtle degree of difference (6)

22  Limitless one-er born (3)

23  Once invest with purpose pursued by English women (5)

24  Point on top of first-class fleecy head wrap (5)

25  Regularly scarey pack of hounds (3)

26  Birds swallowing unknown carrion-eating carnivores according to Shakespeare (5)

Here is last week’s solution:

General knowledge again this week. If you prefer to work on the interactive link or print a pdf, click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  Someone who imitates the words or behaviour of another (7)

    5  Tree of southern United States and Mexico cultivated for its nuts (5)

    8  A bold outlaw (especially on the American frontier) (9)

    9  Mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing (3)

  10  The 3rd planet from the sun (5)

  12  In the current fashion (2,5)

  13  The last day before Lent (6,7)

  15  With no frozen water (3-4)

  17  Circulate, distribute or equip with (5)

  19  Any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue (3)

  20  Religious cult practised chiefly in Caribbean countries (especially Haiti); involves witchcraft and animistic deities (9)

  22  Take (someone) to their seats, as in theatres or auditoriums (5)

  23  One-seeded wheat grown in arid regions (7)

Down

    1  Ask for and get free; be a parasite (5)

    2  Step in dancing (especially in classical ballet) (3)

    3  Russian dramatist whose plays are concerned with the difficulty of communication between people (1860-1904) (7)

    4  Sausage baked in batter (4-2-3-4)

    5  Classical music performances at which some of the audience stand (5)

    6  Ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla (9)

    7  Preschool for small children (7)

  11  Any element of the lanthanide series (atomic numbers 57 through 71) (4,5)

  13  Chinese breed of small dog similar to a Pekingese (4-3)

  14  Any external parasitic organism (as fleas) (7)

  16  Adult member of the Boy Scouts movement (5)

  18  Made of a tree of the genus Ulmus (5)

  21  People of eastern Nigeria (3)

Here is last week’s solution: