Untitled No. 4 โ Solutions
โ Full annotations below. Only read on if you've finished the puzzle or need help.
Across
6
AGENT
A toff is getting broker (5)
A + GENT โ A + gent (toff). toff (n.) a person of the upper classes, esp wealthy and smartly dressed
8
APPARATUS
Outfit, one worn by a quiet character oddly lacking purse (9)
A + P + PAR{A}T + pUrSe โ A + P (quiet) + PART (character) with one (a) in + even letters of purse
10
TRADITION
Feature keeping domain's crown โ Anglicans, essentially, acting? (9)
TRA{D}IT + I[c]ON โ feature (trait) containing crown of (d)omain + central letter of angl(I)cans + on (acting)
11
SEGUE
Continue on with charge, protecting sources of evidence gathered (5)
S{EG}UE โ sue (charge) around first letters of evidence and gathered. def: segue (v.i.) to proceed without pause, to follow on
12
RATIO
Break up a trio in relationship (5)
(ATRIO)* โ anagram of a trio
13
ESPIONAGE
Fake pigeons are eager to start spying (9)
(PIGEONS + A + E)* โ anagram of pigeons with (a)re + first letter of (e)ager
14
PAGE
Summon attendant (4)
Double def
16
STASH
Store's seeking to advertise some hamburgers at the front (5)
S + T + A + S + H โ first letters of seeking to advertise some hamburgers
18
AT IT
A bird's mating (2,2)
A + TIT โ A + bird (tit). def: at it (prep.) having sexual intercourse (informal)
21
GRADATION
Ceremony gives away university degree (9)
GRAD[u]ATION โ ceremony (graduation) without (u)niversity
23
ADD UP
Hold water (a low-grade drink when missing ice) with less cold cup (3,2)
A + D + D[rink] + [c]UP โ a + low grade (D) + drink without ice (drink - rink) + cup with (c) removed
25
NADIR
Florida nudist is lying around, concealing bottom (5)
[floRIDA Nudist]< โ reversed hidden in florida nudist
26
APATHETIC
A walk with slippery ice outside, temperature's cold (9)
A + PATH + (I{T}CE)* โ A + PATH (walk) + anagram of ICE around (T)emperature
27
CHAPERONE
Bloke extremely eager to meet one escort (9)
CHAP + E[age]R + ONE โ CHAP (bloke) + outer letters of EAGER + ONE
28
MORAL
From time to time, I'm not really honest (5)
[iM nOt ReAlLy] โ alternate letters of the preceding words
Down
1
DEPART
Evacuate, being stuck in lift after power outage? (6)
[TRA[p]PED]< -> DEPART โ stuck (trapped) in lift (reversal) after power outage (remove p)
2
MANIFEST
Declare spar while concealing blade, cutting first (8)
MA{[k]NIFE}ST โ mast (spar) over knife without first letter
3
OPEN UP
Unfold uniform worn by unorthodox new Pope (4,2)
(POPE + N{U})* โ anagram of pope and (n)ew over (U)niform
4
EROSION
Weakening, keeling over, burning in overwhelming love (7)
[SORE]< + I{O}N โ burning (sore) reversed + in over love (O)
5
STAGNANT
Slow-moving beetle maybe finally won against bug (8)
STAG + N + ANT โ stag (type of beetle) + last letter of won + ant (bug)
6
ANTHROPOGENIC
Pro-GenAI? No, tech's draining energy out from humans (13)
(PROGENAINOT[e]CH)* โ anagram of pro gen ai no tech with (E)nergy drained from tech
7
TAILOR
Customise part of ChatGPT, "AI Lord" (6)
[chatgpT, "AI LORd"] โ hidden in the preceding words
9
STEREOTYPICAL
Tolerate spicy liquid stock (13)
(TOLERATESPICY)* โ anagram of tolerate spicy
15
GUARDIAN
A raid failed, circumvented by shooter and sentinel (8)
GU{(ARAID)*}N โ anagram of 'a raid' inserted into GUN (shooter)
17
SINUATED
Serpentine mutant herd regularly pursues evil (8)
SIN + [mUtAnT hErD] โ regular letters of mutant herd following sin (evil)
19
HAIR GEL
Hire gal to work for top setter? (4,3)
(HIREGAL)* โ anagram of hire gal, hair gel is used to 'set' one's 'top'
20
FATHOM
Plumb faucet's opening, almost in (6)
F + AT HOM[e] โ first letter of faucet + 'at home' (in) cut short. def: plumb (v.t.) to pierce the depth of, fathom, by eye or understanding
22
IN A ROW
I succeeded in comeback, capturing a rook, one after another (2,1,3)
I + [WON]< -> I N{A + R}OW โ I + WON reversed over A (one) + (R)ook
24
DETERS
Grass rising over time? Bit of salt prevents (6)
[REED]< -> DE{T}ER + S โ reversal of reed (grass) over (t)ime + first letter of (s)alt