Across
Root cause to lose heart: crumbly eclair (8)
Associate of monastery is not quite spherical (6)
Almost entirely set free (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
almost, but not QUITe adding later: according to my Chambers, a long way down the definitions (among the obsolete usages), “to quit” is “to free” (verb) and as an adjective “quit” means “set free”. “Quite” is defined as: completely, wholly, entirely, … The wordplay is that “almost QUITE” = QUITe with the final letter removed. Obviously, the brevity that amused me at 2am is misplaced
Leader of choir admits Baker, a sweary person (10)
Thrill of subtle colour across lake (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
TINGE (subtle colour) around L (lake)
One tin and initially three beer bottles in Spanish resort (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I CAN (one tin) and T (initially Three) ALE (beer) surrounds (bottles)
Give a hard look round very fast (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
STARE (give a hard look) around V (very) – although I’d quibble about STARVE and fast being equivalent – fasting seems more deliberate and starving tends to the involuntary
Mastered Latin to gain respect at last (6)
In middle of long play perhaps catheter failed (3,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
anagram of (CATHETER)* – many Shakespeare plays are in 5 acts – so act 3 would be the middle of the play
Speaking Italian today in the arcade (6)
Incest took place in such a room? (4-6)
Buzzer has become loud? (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
if the WASP (buzzer) has become loud it WAS P (quiet)
Inability to recognise pitch in strip oddly missing close by (3,3)
Richard Of York … for one was a jogger (8)
Down
English vehicle, one with another about to block this, the height of danger in Italy (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
E SUV (English vehicle – sports utility vehicle) + I (one) with VUS (another about – SUV reversed) to give V E SUV I US
Allowed to involve son in case (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
LET (allowed) around (to involve) S (son) – most often heard as “lest we forget”
The Fellowship of the Ring (6)
Unhappy expressions of dejection said to reduce business (8)
Briefly village’s terrible rainfall drowning paying guest (8,2)
Oust team’s wingers for new formation: that’s the limit! (6)
Roughly check about a reservation (6)
Custodian, energetic type, hiding key on purpose (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
GOER (energetic type) around (hiding) ALT (key) + (on) END (purpose) – for the name of a goalkeeper, particularly in ice hockey, apparently
Green supporter pens joke, ultimately one of several in column (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
VERT (green – in heraldry and French) + BRA (supporter) around (pens) E (jokE ultimately – last letter of jokE). The column is the spinal column.
Racist is doddery, of an age with the dinosaurs (8)
Beautiful-sounding woman and mother? A malicious old one (6)
Owner of shell company with no time to be author (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CO (company) + WRItE (write – to be author – with no time T)
Left snake for its opposite (6)
Global medical body comes to a halt (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
WHO (global medical body – World Health Organisation) + (comes to) A (from the clue) – for the word used to halt horses
Type letters or click words in the clue