Weak Force by Tut

Puzzle explanation

Corrections to misprints in clues spelt out “top, up, strange”, three types of quark, the name of which comes from the line “Three quarks for Muster Mark!” in Finnegans Wake by James Joyce. The title refers to the weak interaction between subatomic particles and also cryptically hints at WAKE.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprint Answer Explanation
Across
1 je(T)s FLAK FLAK(e)
4 f(O)rmer COCCID COCC(o) + ID
11 ste(P) MOTIONLESS 2 meanings
12 Mal(U)s SCRUMP SC + RUMP
13 ma(P) REMOTE R + E + MOTE
14   SKIMPIER M in SKIP + IE + R
15   ANIS AS around NI
16   BREW HE + BREW = HEBREW
17   AMIANTUS (SUIT A MAN) *
20   LACETS LT’S around ACE
22   RIMA RIM + A
23   GESTAPO (EST + A + P) in GO
26   SMIT S + MIT
28   EASSIL LASSIE *
29   HOMESICK SOME * in HICK
30   NAZE NA + ZEAL − AL
32   PREY OSPREY − OS
34   MARIMBAS MAR + IMBAS(e)
36   AIR DAM (MADEIRA − E) *
37   STEARE STEA(l) + RE
38   GOAT-WILLOW GO AT + W + PILLOW − P
39 ca(S)t PLAYER PLAY + ER
40 scen(T) REEK (G)REEK
Down
1 deba(R) FOSS 2 meanings
2 h(A)rn LOCKRAM LOCK + RAM
3 (N)est AERIE A (t)E(h)R (l)I(k)E(s)
4   COMPUTERS COMMUTERS with P for M
5   CINEMATICALLY (ICE MAN) * + TIC + ALLY
6   CORRIDA CORRIDOR − OR + A
7   INEZ IN + EZ
8   DEONTICS (NICE DOT’S) *
9   OSTIUM ODIUM with ST for D
10 (G)ear USES ((surpri)SE SU(rprise)) <
16 bra(E)s BLASH BLA(h) + SH
18   APPARITOR P in (A + AIRPORT *)
19   SABLE ’S + ABLE(t)
21   CHIMERAS A in CHIMERS
24   SKIMMIA SKIM + M + I’ + A
25   BIZARRE IZAR(d) in BRE(n)
27   MORION MOR + I + ON
31   ABASE A + BA + SE(t)
32   PAGE 2 meanings; ref. Anna Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor
33   BAWL W in LAB <
35   SERK (Fra)SER K(ilt)
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