Got Me! by Towser

Puzzle explanation

Clashes were resolved and bars adjusted to show the thematic names as follows: FRANCOIS from FRANC(K)|ISSEI, RABELAIS from R|A|BELAI(R), GARGANTUA from VINEGAR|(M)ANTUA, PANTAGRUEL from PA(S)TA|GRUEL, PANURGE from I(R)AN|URGE. Initial letter pairs from the extra words in across clues spelt “Fay ce que vouldras” (from Gargantua). Those from down clues gave Alcofribas Nasier, the anagrammatic pseudonym under which François Rabelais wrote the Gargantua and Pantagruel pentalogy. The diagonal from SW to NE contained his invented word “metagrabolise” (to puzzle out), which is an anagram of Rabelais and the puzzle’s title (which isn’t the case for the “metagrobolise” spelling).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
1 fabulous BEADLEDOM MODEL < after BEAD
7   CLUE 2 meanings
11 Y-chromosome SURAMIN SUR + A + MIN
13   EFFACES EF + FACES
15   STRINE STRIPE with N(egative) for P
17 equerry BEL AIR E in BLAIR
19   CARPACCIO CARP + ACC + (on)IO(ns)
21 UEFA SICE SIC + (Rom)E
22   INK IN IN KIN(d)
23 volume HEBRIDES (Mo)R(se) in (HE + BIDES)
25   ACNE homophone of ’ACKNEY
27 Ulster PAHS homophone of PA’S
30   FOULARDS FOUDS around LAR(ge)
31   TAROT TROT around A
32   VINEGAR VINE + GAR
36   MANTUA MANA around TU
37 dried ESCAROLE CASSEROLE * − S
41   ASTRUT A + ST + RUT
43   AGREED A + GREED
45   TANAGER (GREAT AN(d)) *
46 ashamed MIRY MIR + Y
47   LORGNETTE (LONG + (l)ETTER(s)) *
Down
1   BRESCIA (CRABS + IE) *
2   AUFS (e)A(t) U(p) F(i)S(h)
3   DRAPPIE (PAID PER) *
4 Alfred’s LAC LACHES − HE’S
5   DISA ISA after D(esert)
6   METEORITAL METAL around (ORE IT) *
7   CARLS CARS around L
8   LEI ALGERIA − AGRA (letters in odd positions)
9 cover USNIC U(p) S(cientific) N(ame) I(n) C(hemistry)
10   EMESES MSS with E before each letter
12 frightened MERC 2 meanings
14 Ibert FRANCK (F + RACK) around N
16   PASTA A(sparagus) after PAST
18   AIDA AID + A
20 Asian IBIS IRIS with B(lue) for R
23   HORA (summe)R in HOA
24   IRAN I + RAN
26   NUNC C after NUN
28   HOUSE 2 meanings
29   STANDEE ST + AND + EE
32 nasty VEAL (ha)VE A L(ividity)
33   ISSEI IS + SEI
34   EARLY EARL + Y
35   GRUEL GRUEL with C for G = CRUEL
36   GEAN GEN around A
38 siegecraft LEAR 2 meanings
39   URGE GRUEL * − (lustfu)L
40 erupting MEET TEEM <
42   TAR TARDIS − DIS
44   GAN NAG <
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