Listener Crossword 4541: Solution Notes
Doing the Rounds by eXtent
Puzzle explanation
The 12-letter entry in the central circle (clued by wordplay only, and not jumbled) was FLOWER OF LIFE, a name for the pattern of overlapping circles that formed the grid.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra words (answer) | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | ACE | 3 meanings | |
| 5 | SERE | SEE around R(iver) | |
| 9 | ANTES | NET * in (A + S) | |
| 14 | STOLEN | (L + NOTES) * | |
| 20 | EAGLE | (firewal)L in E-AGE | |
| 25 | AGUE | PLAGUE − PL | |
| 29 | ADD | AD + D | |
| Ascending | |||
| 1 | PREFAB | P(laste)R + E + FAB | |
| 2 | IDEAL | I + DEAL | |
| 3 | ANTS | AS around N(es)T | |
| 4 | SIT | (T(attoist) I(nked) S(ubject)) < | |
| 5 | SHARD | S + HARD | |
| 9 | AMEN | AMEN(d) | |
| 14 | TOE | TOE + CURLING = TOE-CURLING | |
| Descending | |||
| 14 | LED | homophone of LEAD | |
| 20 | RIDE | BRIDE − B | |
| 25 | DREAM | RE in DAM | |
| 29 | REFORM | (welfa)RE FOR M(ental) | |
| 30 | BOLTS | BELTS with O for E | |
| 31 | AGAR | A(llergists) G(uard) A(gainst) R(oyal) | |
| 32 | ERR | (gend)ER R(eassignment) | |
| Round | |||
| 6 | plants (NAIADS) | PEARL DISEASE | PEA + (LESS + A DIRE) * |
| 7 | bullet (TRACER) | MATERIALIZED | (AREA + LIMITED + Z) * |
| 8 | fouled (MESSED) | AIR TERMINALS | AIR + TER + MINAS around L |
| 10 | corrosive agents (EATERS) | HUMAN SHIELDS | HUMS around (LINES HAD) * |
| 11 | blinded (HOODED) | MINERAL WATER | (ALE WRITER MAN) * |
| 12 | read (LEARNT) | TERMS OF TRADE | TERM + SOFT + READ * |
| 13 | stranger (EERIER) | TRANSVESTISM | SERVANT * + IT’S < + S + M |
| 15 | lead (HALTER) | METATHEORIES | THE in (METAL + ORIELS − L − L) |
| 16 | apocalyptic horseman (FAMINE) | TOWER HAMLETS | HAMLET in TOWERS |
| 17 | raise locally (TEAGLE) | FLOWER OF LIFE | FLOW + (FO + RE) < + FILE * |
| 18 | embryonic (FOETAL) | FAMILLE VERTE | (MILL + EVER) in FATE |
| 19 | handles (TREATS) | SCIATIC NERVE | (S + CIA + NERVE) around TIC |
| 21 | blood vessels (AORTAE) | DEMONSTRATES | (RANDOM TEST + S(om)E) * |
| 22 | to surrender (FOREGO) | GENERAL STAFF | (SENT FLAG FEAR) * |
| 23 | careful (FRUGAL) | FORESTALLING | FORE + TALL in SING |
| 24 | old pieces (REALES) | ART GALLERIES | ARTERIES around GALL |
| 26 | wear (ABRADE) | REFRIGERANTS | (REF + RIG + ANTS) around ER; ref. 3 descending |
| 27 | schedule (AGENDA) | SURFBOARDING | BOARD in SURFING |
| 28 | showily dressed (DOLLED) | GLAUBER’S SALT | ÜBER- in GLASS + A-LIST − IS |