I completed this on a business trip to the US, but don’t have a record of the time, and in any case I think jetlag would probably have had an influence.
I don’t think this was too difficult, although I have a couple of clues where I am not sure that I have parsed them correctly.
2D was an inventive way to clue the word, and was probably my favourite
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 OVERARM – O = ball, VERA = Russian girl, perhaps, RM = room. I am not sure why Vera should be a Russian name | |
| 5 RHEUMATIC – RHEUM = watery discharge, A, TIC = spasm | |
| 10 SCAM – SCAM(p) = mischief-maker, with P = pawn removed | |
| 14 COUNTERACTION – COUNTER = bar, ACTION = fighting | |
| 15 NEWSHOUND – NEW = novel, HUDSON* | |
| 16 PERTINENCE – PENCE = coppers, around E.R. = queen and TIN = preserve | |
| 17 TOILET PAPER – TOIL = work, PAPER = news outlet, arount E.T. = film | |
| 18 COACH – very simple double definition | |
| 19 CHINCHILLA – CHINA = friend, around CHILL = relax | |
| 21 ACCENT – AC = account, CENT = little money | |
| 23 ATTENUATE – (TUNE AT TEA)* | |
| 25 DWELT – D(aughter), WELT = heavy blow | |
| 26 E-NUMBER – E = online (as in e-mail), NUMBER = edition | |
| 28 POETIC JUSTICE – cryptic definition, where linesman = poet | |
| 31 SOMMELIER – SOMME = battle, L,R = both sides, around I.E. = that is | |
| 33 RUNNERS-UP – RUNNER = fish, SUP = drink | |
| 35 HIGHLAND FLING – HIGH = intoxicated, LAD = kid, around N(ame), FLING = shy | |
| 37 GRIMACE – GRIM = forbidding, ACE = one | |
| 38 EMBER – (m)EMBER = parliamentarian | |
| 40 ENSCONCED – SCONCE = fortification, in END = objective | |
| 42 SPLEEN – SEEN = experienced, around P(ortuga)L | |
| 44 CONTRAVENE – CONTE = French tale, around RAVEN = black bird | |
| 46 ITALY – I, TA(l)LY = reckon | |
| 48 ROMANTICISE – CREATIONISM* | |
| 50 SLEEPINESS – S(ociety), LEES = dregs, around PINES = longs | |
| 52 PHOENICIA – PHOENI(x) = US state capital, CIA = spies | |
| 53 CAMPTOWN RACES – CAMP = affected, TRACES = touches, around OWN = have | |
| 54 BONN – BONN(y) = Scot’s beautiful | |
| 55 PRETENDER – P(olice), RE = concerned with, TENDER = money | |
| 56 ROYALTY – ROT = junk, around YAL = LAY = set, backwards, Y = variable | |
| Down | |
| 1 ORCA – the ending in tow of the Balearic islands – MinORCA and MajORCA | |
| 2 EXUBERANT – if the current leader in the colony is an UBER ANT, then the old leader must be an EX UBER ANT (get it?) | |
| 3 A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE – (AN INSENSITIVE CHAT)* around TIMES = paper | |
| 4 MORONIC – MOR = ROM = traveller (Romany?), reversed, ON IC(e) = frozen. I think this is correct | |
| 5 RECONSIDERS – RIDERS = stipulations, around E(nglish) and CONS = prisoners | |
| 6 EVIDENCED – DEVICE* around DEN = hole | |
| 7 MANET – TEN A.M. = mid morning, reversed | |
| 8 TONSILLITIS – TONS = many, ILL = suffering, I = current, TIS = SIT = seat, reversed | |
| 9 COWMEN – CO = firm, WEN = city, around M(illions) | |
| 11 CRUMPLE – C(onservative), RULE = government, around PM = Prime Minister | |
| 12 MODERATOR – (TO ARMED)*, O.R. = soldiers | |
| 13 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – (PERFECT YOUTH, ADORING AIR)* | |
| 18 CLAPPER – C(old), LAP = drink, PER = for each | |
| 20 ICEBERG – I(sland), C(aught), EBERG = GREBE = bird, reversed | |
| 22 TERMINUS – TERM IN U.S. = American word | |
| 24 ADJUSTER – AD = commercial, JUST = lawful, E(mploye)R | |
| 27 BLINI – hidden in DuBLIN Irish | |
| 29 ENNUI – EN NUI(t) = in night (French) | |
| 30 INHABIT – IN HABIT = like a nun | |
| 32 RIGIDLY – RIG = gear, IDLY = carelessly | |
| 34 PREDOMINATE – PRATE = babble, around EDOM = MODE = way, reversed and IN = home | |
| 36 LIE DETECTOR – (DIRE COLETTE)* | |
| 37 GASTRO-PUB – GAB = chatter, around U = upper-class and PORTS = wines, both reversed | |
| 39 REASSUMED – (MADE SURE)* around S(on) | |
| 41 CLASSICAL – CAL = state, around L(iberal), ASS = fool and I.C. = in charge | |
| 43 LAMPOON – LOON = twit, around AMP = a bit of current | |
| 45 EMPOWER – EWER = vessel, around M.P. = politician and O(ver) | |
| 47 HICCUP – HIC = here (Latin), CUP = chalice | |
| 49 EMCEE – alternate (even) letters in tEaM sChEmEd | |
| 51 I-SPY – I’S = one’s, P(art)Y | |
According to Wikipedia VERA is a Slavic name, which was news to me.
I’m pretty sure you’re right on 4dn: ROM is in all the dictionaries as a male Gypsy.
I loved the EX UBER-ANT.