Independent Cryptic #12200

2025-11-14

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Across

9a

Splendid Welsh league accepting representation of founder (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

*(FOUNDER) in [W (=Welsh) + L (=league); “representation of” is anagram indicator

10a

Relative turned about to go for soup (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BROTH <er> (=relative; “turned (=reversed) about (=re-, regarding) to go (=be dropped)” means letters “er” are dropped)

11a

Face consuming supply of tea every 24 hours (7)

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12a

Former Queen in flamboyant clothing experiencing damp weather (7)

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13a

Dark period with good hearts suppressed by idiot (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[G (=good) + H (=hearts, i.e. suit in cards)] in NIT (=idiot)

14a

Try dropping unknown firearm not given to wounding (9)

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16a

Such characters in old ode? (3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

semi- & lit .; the odd (=not even) characters (=letters) in O <l> D <o> D <e> give the word “odd (=unusual, rare)”, which the letters in an old poem may well be!

17a

Feel pride say after former schoolfellow returned as biographer (7)

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19a

Title is backed by publisher finally (3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SI (IS; “backed” indicates reversal) + <publishe> R (“finally” means last letter only)

20a

Number of attendees to drop? Get in without paying (9)

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23a

Horseplay when coming round to bed (5)

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24a

A lot of wind leads to oppressive rain and bad conditions (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SQUAL <l> (=wind; “a lot of” means last letter is dropped) + O <ppressive> R <ain> (“leads to” means first letter of each is needed)

25a

Sword carrier without charm not entirely well-set-up (7)

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26a

Form line when entering Court of Session (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[L (=line) + AS (=when, as conjunction)] in CS (=Court of Session); a form is a class in a school

27a

Time in Church House ignoring special sponsorship (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

T (=time) in PAR <s> ONAGE (=church house; “ignoring special (=S)” means letter “s” is dropped)

Down

1d

Mystical scientist sending river into European country marsh (10)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

R (=river) in [SWEDEN (=European country) + BOG (=marsh)]; the reference is to the Swedish mystic scientist Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772)

2d

I note failure to restrain large pet (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

I + N + [LGE (=large) in DUD (=failure, flop)]; as an adjective, pet means favourite, indulged, pampered

3d

Seed a Parisian turned up in vegetable matter (6)

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4d

A lot of commotion about dull inspiration (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

FLAT (=dull, uninspired) in [A + FUS <s> (=commotion, ado; “a lot of” means last letter is dropped)]

5d

Ionised gas: contrived a sample to emit energy (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

*(A SAMPL <e>); “to emit energy (=E)” means letter “e” is dropped from anagram, indicated by “contrived”; in physics, plasma is a very hot ionised gas

6d

Strange Buddhist priest heading heavenwards newly born inside (8)

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7d

Doctor satisfied about national importance (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

MO (=doctor, i.e. Medical Officer) + [N (=national, as in RNLI) in MET (=satisfied, i.e. condition)]

8d

Question importing English dairy product (4)

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15d

Storyteller has buckled horn carried by vagrant cleric (10)

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17d

Spooner’s to miss party leading to unpleasant response (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Spoonerism of “ l ack (=(to) miss) + b ash (=party)”

18d

Cut up about greeting piece of early evidence? (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[HI (=greeting) + BIT (=piece of)] in EXA (AXE=cut; “up” indicates vertical reversal); logically, Exhibit A will come before Exhibit B, C, D, in a court case

19d

Malaysian dish keeping Pakistani all but enthralled for 24 hours (8)

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21d

Bird in quantity of film after holiday cut short (6)

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22d

Rough area dry containing phosphorus (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A (=area) + [P (=phosphorus) in BRUT (=dry, of champagne)]; a rough, short manner is abrupt

23d

Go behind congregation mostly depressed (6)

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24d

Item of clothing very much attached to designer logo? (4)

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