Independent Cryptic #12290

2026-02-27

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Across

1a

Film and book with curtailed scope (5)

Generating...

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

B (book) + AMBI t (scope) excluding the final letter (curtailed) T

4a

Dancing nymphs around love deity, ultimately - or Jupiter, perhaps (8)

Generating...

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

( Anagram of [dancing] NYMPHS containing [around] O (character representing zero [love score at tennis]) + Y ( last letter [ultimately] of deit Y )

8a

Heavy garment, one adopted by cottager at work (9)

Generating...

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

A (one) contained in (adopted by) an anagram of (at work) COTTAGER

9a

IT device penned verse in 2000 (5)

Generating...

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

MM (Roman numerals for decimal 2000) containing (penned) ODE (verse)

11a

A surprised comment about debut of theatre performer (5)

Generating...

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

A + ( COR [expression of surprise] containing [about] T [ first letter of {debut} T heatre])

12a

Quality of theatre company leading us in acts, I fancy (9)

Generating...

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

( CO [company] + US ) contained in ( an anagram of [fancy] ACTS I )

13a

Source of cholesterol in eggs carried by Greek shopkeeper (6)

Generating...

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

( C [ first letter of [source of] C holesterol] contained in [in] ROE [fish eggs]) all contained in (carried by) GR (Greek)

14a

French not initially accepting quantity of work, having a bad reaction (8)

Generating...
17a

Shot zero with gun (8)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Church to copy large one of its subdivisions (6)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Coffer artist depicted with golden band (9)

flowerflowerflower
24a

American subject taking in English and Irish county (5)

Generating...

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

MATH (American term equivalent to the British term MATHS [school subject]) containing (taking in) E (English)

25a

Cries: "Absolutely!," hugging couple of students (5)

Generating...

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

YES (absolutely) containing (hugging) ( L [learner; student] + L [learner; student] – couple of students)

26a

Redesigned portative water transport (9)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Tory regularly embracing rocky movement? One talks nonsense (8)

Generating...

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

TR ( letters 1 and 3 [regularly] of T o R y) containing (embracing) WADDLE (walking with a clumsy rocking gait; rocky movement)

28a

Destructive pest taking rear off place (5)

Generating...

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

LOCUS t (destructive insect or pest) excluding the final letter (taking rear off) T

Down

1d

Cosmological hypothesis second-rate, going by earth’s development (3,4,6)

Generating...

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

B (second-rate) + an anagram of (development) GOING BY EARTH

2d

Person skilful in a version of some art (7)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Run into detective, blocking awkward ambush (9)

Generating...

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

( R [run] contained in [into] ‘ TEC [detective]) all contained in (blocking) INEPT (awkward)

4d

Struggle with incomplete catchphrase (6)

Generating...

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

SLOG (long exhausting work; a struggle) + AN d (with) excluding the final letter (incomplete) D

5d

Dignified base of monument - damage just around that (8)

Generating...

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

( MAR [damage] + ONLY [just]) containing (round) T ( last letter of [base of] monumen T )

6d

Our group pursuing smell to find decomposing matter (5)

Generating...

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

HUM (smell) + US (our group)

7d

Falling asleep, note, unusual in Government (7)

Generating...

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

N (note) + ODD (unusual) + IN + G (government)

10d

Continual shuffling of positions: sadly classic HR aim around university (7,6)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (sadly) CLASSIC HR AIM containing (around) U (university)

15d

What about phosphorus: nearly green for a short time (9)

Generating...

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

( EH [what?] containing ([about] P [chemical symbol for phosphorus]) + EMERAL d (green colour) excluding the final letter (nearly) D

16d

Mostly five-star dancing line in Glastonbury? (8)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (danicng) FIVE-STA r excluding the final letter (mostly) R + L (line)

18d

Irish county likely to lose the light? (7)

Generating...

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

If the WICK on a candle is LOW , you may soon lose the light it provides

20d

Ultimate in film celluloid? (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

A politician hugged by a baby? (6)

Generating...

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

( A + MP [Member of Parliament; politician) contained in (hugged by) PER (each; a)

23d

Relieved, happy to lose place (5)

Generating...

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

pl EASED (happy) excluding (to lose) PL (place)