Common Acid Test by Stan

Puzzle explanation

The extra letters from wordplay spelt out “illuminated manuscript” and “versal in largest cell”. Accordingly, the top-left cell had to be 3×3, containing a large (somewhat ornate) A that was shared by multiple across and down entries. The highlighted title was Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the New Testament gospels. The puzzle’s title hinted at “non-U litmus” = LITMS, ie LIT (illuminated) MS (manuscript).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

Answer Explanation [extra letter]
AUREUS (T)A(c)[I](t)U(s) + SURE *
APERÇU AP + CRUE[L] *
HERB (H + B(abe)) around ([L]E + R)
RUBATOS RUB + A[U]TOS
BREED [M]B + RED around E(pidemic)
OF NOTE [I]O + NOT in FE
UPTREND PUT * + [N]R + END
KEEN [A]E in KEN
LEPPED PEL[T] < + PED
OBELI (pr)OB[E] ELI(minated)
REFOOT ROOT around [D]EF
ATTACKER [M]ATER around TACK
NAVE [A]NA + ’VE
SCELERATE (TEE[N]S CLEAR) *
JELL EL[U]L around J(une)
FÊTE FE[S]T + E
GALA G[C]A + L(ook) A(ctive)
ENGENDER [R]END in GREEN *
PSALTERY (S[I]GHT-PLAYER − (G + H(armony))) *
BEDE D in BEE[P]
ABULIA BUIL[T] * in AA
ARPENT P in TA[V]ERN *
UPPER (cantalo)UP[E] PER(haps)
RED DEER ’RE + O[R]DERED * − O
ERRAND ARR < in [S]END
SUBFLOOR (OF L[A]BOUR’S) *
SHANKBONE SHONE around ([L]ANK + (ri)B)
VETO V[I]E + TO
TROT [N]OT after T(eacher’s) R(outine)
IBSENITE (TEEN IS) * after [L]IB
DEFEAT MEAT with DE[A]F for the first letter
ELEVATED E + T[R]AVELLED * − L
PATELLA LA[G] after PLATE *
FALLAL FALL around L[E]A
KRONE (NOR[S]E + K) *
CEAS C(reating) E(mpty) [T](houghts) A(round) S(tage)
EVET EVI[C]T with E for I
THEY TH(ieves) + EY[E]
CEDE CE[L] + ED <
MERE RE[L] after ME
Back to 2016 menu