There’s not a lot to say about this puzzle. It’s of average difficulty with a straightforward, completely fair, set of clues. I solved top to bottom, left to right, in just under the hour.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | TRAGACANTH – (that gran)* contains “a” and “c” from c(hewing); a gum from the Middle East; |
| 11 | GILA – G(I-L)A; GA from (lolly)GA(gging); a slow moving venomous American lizard; |
| 12 | ARAMAIC – (CIA-MARA all reversed); MARA=Patagonian hare; Semitic language used in the Talmud; |
| 13 | SPAULD – SP-AULD; special=SP; old Scottish=AULD; a shoulder of Aberdeen Angus; |
| 14 | STIFLE – STIF(f)-LE(d); a horse’s knee; |
| 15 | HERMENEUTIST – (in truth see me)*; one who interprets particularly Scripture (from Hermes); |
| 19 | ACKEE – (cake + (sal)e)*; a fruit from the Caribbean; |
| 21 | DIONAEA – DI(O)N-A-EA; about=A; Fens river=EA; the Venus fly trap; |
| 22 | NAYSAID – N-AY-S-AID; second=S; funding=AID; note=N; for ever=AY; refused is definition; |
| 23 | PPARC – P(PAR)C; Privy Councillor=PC; standard=PAR; Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council which no longer exists but became part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council; |
| 27 | DISSOLUTIONS – DIS-(insults + o=old + o=over (cricket))*; |
| 28 | ONTIME – ON(TIM)E; joke=ONE (heard the one about…); TIM=Traditional Indian Medicine=ayurveda; |
| 29 | SHE,OAK – S(HE)OAK; a pair of hens=HE(ns); lush=drunkard=SOAK; |
| 30 | GEOFACT – GE-OF-ACT; Earth mother=GE; measuring=OF; kid=pretend=ACT; a naturally worn stone that is difficult to distinguish from an artefact; |
| 31 | SAWN – trumpeter=swan then shift “w”=with to give SAWN; |
| 32 | CONTACTING – CON-TACT-ING; conservative=CON; understanding=TACT; meadow=ING; |
| Down | |
| 2 | RIPEN – R(I-P)EN; I(talian) P(rosciutto) in REN=old word for “run”=roll; |
| 3 | ALARM – A-LA(R)M; about=A; splash of r(um)=R; batter=hit=LAM; |
| 4 | GAUMLESS – GAUM-LESS; clog=GAUM; |
| 5 | ABLE,SEAWOMAN – A-B(L-(awesome)*)AN; sentence=BAN; main=sea; |
| 6 | ARSENIDE – arsey=lucky; Y=YMCA/YWCA=hostel; change “y” to NIDE=old word for a pheasant’s brood; arsenic + a metal which will react with an acid to form arsine, a very toxic gas; |
| 7 | NATUROPATHIC – an anagram of “ace ploy” plus NATUROPATHIC gives “occupational therapy”; like reiki say is definition; |
| 8 | HAFIZ – HA-FIZ – in this year=ha=hoc anno; go=FIZ; a Muslim who has memorised the whole Koran; |
| 9 | PILSNER – PIL(SN)E-R; a large amount=PILE; right=R; tin=SN(chemical symbol); pale yellow lager originally from Pilsen with a slightly bitter taste and a hoppy aroma; |
| 10 | ICE,TRACK – ICE-T-RACK; reserve=ICE; doubt=RACK; T=Thailand; |
| 16 | CANTDOGS – CAN-T(D)OGS; jacket=CAN; dresses=TOGS; daughter=D; hooks for rolling logs; |
| 17 | IDIOLECT – IDIO(t)-LECT; lecturer=LECT; yours and my distinctive form of speech; |
| 18 | UNPRIEST – UN-P(R)IE-ST; one=UN; R=rector; a mixed state=PIE; stumped=ST (cricket); to defrock; |
| 20 | CABINET – CAB-I-NET; growler=old taxi=CAB; from Waggledagger, the bed or nest of a beast or bird; |
| 24 | ESTOC – reverse hidden (S)COTS E(nglish); preposterous=reversal indicator; a short sword; |
| 25 | BOOAI – BO-OA(f)-I; BO=bo tree=holy tree of Buddhists; lout=oaf; in=I; a remote spot in New Zealand; |
| 26 | GNAWN – G-N-AWN; grand=G; new=N; beard=AWN; |
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