The initial letters of extra words in clues spelt “They were all Greek mythological sisters”. The thematic entries were all of the Graces, Muses and Fates except for Thalia, both a Muse and a Grace, who replaced GOALIE at 20dn.
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
No | Extra word (entry) | Answer | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|
Across | |||
7 | twinning | SOMONI | NOMOS < + I |
8 | horrified | BOORKA | BOOR + K + A |
11 | Effervescent | MARC | homophone of MARK |
12 | yearlong | TUTEE | UT in TEE |
13 | willing | NAH | NAHAL − A − L |
14 | extremely | OBSTRUCT | (OB + STRUT) around C |
15 | removing | CALORICS | CAL + OR + I + C + ’S |
16 | Editor | PAWS | homophone of PAUSE |
19 | after | LOGO | LO + GO |
21 | Legionnaires | INERMOUS | (REN in SUOMI) < |
22 | lament | DOOL | (LOO + D(onne)) < |
23 | Guide | MISHEARS | MARSHES * around I |
27 | record | IRA | AIR * |
29 | eighteen | NOWTS | (ST + WON) < |
31 | extirpating | OILS | SILO * |
33 | kettle | POISHA | I in POSH + A |
Down | |||
1 | Madeira | PORTS | STROP < |
2 | yodellers | ROPER | REPOR(t) < |
3 | trapeze | ONO | (d)ONO(r) |
4 | Harry | YBET | BE(t)TY * |
5 | orthodox | NO-TECH | ETON < + CH |
6 | lacks | OKRA | (cookbo)OK RA(dish) |
7 | oratorio | STAB AT | STABAT (Mater) |
9 | genealogical | OCTOROONS | OC + TO + ROONS |
10 | icons | SUCCINITE | SUITE around (C + C + IN) |
12 | course | TUIS | TUNIS − N |
17 | avoidance | CESS | PROCESS − PRO |
18 | liaison | EUROPA | P in (EURO + A) |
20 | southern | GOALIE | GOA + LIE |
24 | instruction | HOTLY | HOLY around (tu)T(or) |
25 | sower | AGRIN | GRAIN * |
26 | terrorises | SHEBA | SHE + BA |
28 | enjoys | RIOT | O in RIT |
30 | recovers | WEAL | 2 meanings |
32 | sibilance | UGH | SOUGH − SO |
Thematic | |||
(Melpomene) | TRAGEDY | GREAT * + DAY − A | |
(Clotho) | BIRTH | TRIB(e) < + H | |
(Urania) | ASTRONOMY | MONASTERY * with O for E | |
(Euterpe) | MUSIC | (I’ + C) after SUM < | |
(Atropos) | DEATH | HATED * | |
(Polyhymnia) | HYMNS | NYMPHS * − P(an) | |
(Aglaia) | SPLENDOUR | SP + LEND + OUR | |
(Clio) | HISTORY | HIST + O + RY | |
(Calliope) | EPIC VERSE | (P + RECEIVES) * | |
(Lachesis) | LIFE | (d)EFIL(e) < | |
(Terpsichore) | DANCING | ANC in DING | |
(Euphrosyne) | MIRTH | TRIM < + H | |
(Erato) | LOVE POETRY | LO + POET in VERY |