Double Crossword

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. Bicarbonate will weaken the spirit (4)

3. Lift up the hinge somehow (8)

8. Boiled pudding is no good (4)

9. Fastener inserted into locks (4-4)

11. Gives one’s whole attention to compacted substances (12)

13. Start again on a precis (6)

14. Support the Spanish drive forward (6)

17. Become engaged and enter a lawsuit (2,4,6)

20. They look after places arranging car tours (8)

21. With gold, the painter shows distinctive character (4)

22. Describing a meal that’s dished up again when booked (8)

23. Give notice it’s second-hand, we hear (4)

Down

1. Is scared to shake cocktails (8)

2. What the barrister does when fed up with the conclusions (7)

4. Demands payment in accordance with obsolete laws (6)

5. Branch of medicine dealing with advanced subjects (10)

6. As a shield, it’s endlessly aimed at (5)

7. Drop off before the end of the lecture and you’ll get it in the neck! (4)

10. Fabulous creature that could become one’s master (3-7)

12. Insect found in unattractive roadside plant (8)

15. Cowslip Paul transplanted round the border (7)

16. Where Crusoe comes from (6)

18. Frightful characters turning up in baser governments (5)

19. Mark of injury causing endless alarm (4)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Sort (4)

3. Body (8)

8. Too (4)

9. Wide-brimmed hat (8)

11. Dubious (12)

13. Place in position (6)

14. Boil gently (6)

17. Exotic food shop (12)

20. Comic verse (8)

21. Trim (4)

22. Cherish (8)

23. Information (4)

Down

1. Calm (8)

2. Own (7)

4. Jinx (6)

5. Underwater vessels (10)

6. Subdue (5)

7. Cupid (4)

10. Stability (10)

12. Monarch’s daughter (8)

15. Error (7)

16. Occupation (6)

18. Bird of prey (5)

19. Prepare for publishing (4)

Wednesday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Clairvoyant; 9 Arbiter; 10 Moped; 11 Nylon; 12 Tonsure; 13 Fibres; 15 Cogent; 18 Chagrin; 20 Opals; 22 Noble; 23 Abstain; 24 Measurement.

Down: 2 Label; 3 Intense; 4 Verity; 5 Yemen; 6 Neptune; 7 Magnificent; 8 Advertising; 14 Bramble; 16 Opossum; 17 Unfair; 19 Rheas; 21 Again.

QUICK

Across: 1 Pessimistic; 9 Platoon; 10 Repel; 11 Notch; 12 Amnesia; 13 Absorb; 15 Reveal; 18 Episode; 20 Drain; 22 Title; 23 Onerous; 24 Advertising.

Down: 2 Exalt; 3 Smother; 4 Mental; 5 Siren; 6 Impasse; 7 Spontaneity; 8 Cleanliness; 14 Stilted; 16 Endless; 17 Devout; 19 Obese; 21 Adorn.