Rash by Serpent

Puzzle explanation

The extra letters in across clues spelt out “force into hasty action”, one Chambers definition of “precipitate”; the puzzle’s title is another. The top and bottom rows of the grid contained examples of the word (as a verb or noun): RAIN, SNOW, HAIL, SEDIMENT and SILT.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra letter Answer Explanation
Across
1 (F)ending DROUTH DR OUT + (feveris)H
5 v(O)icing RELIEF REF around LIE
10 (R)ice AMICABLE A(çaí) + (LAMB + ICE) *
12 (C)hum SMELL M in SELL
13 plan(E)ts SETS SS around ET
15 mov(I)e PAPAL APPAL with (first) A moving
16 ma(N)y EDIT (EDIT + MAY) = DAYTIME *
17 constrain(T)s CO-DEPENDENT PEN in (CODE + DENT)
19 so(O)n NOSES homophone of NOES + S
21 c(H)asing BEINGS BEGS around IN
24 educ(A)tion ENTICE APPRENTICE − APP − R
26 (S)in DWELT W in DE + LT
28 (T)rack VERSATILITY (IS REALITY TV) *
31 part(Y) LUAU (Honolu)LU AU(nt)
33 r(A)id OTHER (b)OTHER(s)
35 (C)harmed TING GI(a)NT *
36 (T)weak WHEAL W + HEAL
37 ru(I)n MOTORISE (TO + R + SOME) * around I
38 m(O)an ENTRAP PARTNE(r) <
39 mistake(N) ERRAND ERR + A + N + D(evice)
Down
1   DISPONER DIR around (SP + ONE)
2   AROMA A + ROMA
3   UNLADEN (Outr)UN LAD EN(tering)
4   STALL (fund)S + TALL
5   ORIEL OR + IE + L
6   LASHED LA + SHED
7   ELIDING (LID + IN) in EG
8   FLEET 2 meanings
9   REPOSIT (SOP in TIER) <
11   ABIDE B in (IDEA with letters cycled)
13   SNIPPET I in SNP + PET
14   TWINED TED around WIN
18   NEBBING (B + NIB <) in NEG
20   SCAMPI SCAM + PIG − G
22   NEITHER (N + ETHER) around I
23   STARTLED TART in SLED
25   NEURONE N + EUR + ONE
27   WITHERS WITH + ERS
29   DRAFT 2 meanings
30   SUITOR (IS OUT) * + R
31   SLIME MILES *
32   SNIPE (ENS around PI) <
33   TOWER 2 meanings
34   LEARN LEAN around R (letter repeating in ERROR)
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