ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

Puzzle No. 1

ACROSS

1. Lien - (c)lien(ts)

3. Blooming - double meaning

8. Mused - m (=minute in time) + used

10. Dudgeon - dudgeo (anagram) + (cotto)n

11. Ian - in around (d)a(y)

12. Chervil - Ch. (=Chinese) + ervil (anagram)

15. Leeway - sounds like lea + whey

16. Skinny - inn in sky

19. Lampoon - lamp + O (=zero =love in tennis) + on

20. Pan - double meaning

22. Article - anagram

24. Spied - spid (anagram) around (tabl)e

25. Contrite - c(entral) + Ont. (=Ontario) + rite

26. Uses - anagram

DOWN

1. Limpidly - limply around id

2. Essence - Essene around c(entury)

4. Ladies - lad(d)ies

5. Odd - d. (=degree) + d. (=degree) after O (=zero)

6. Ideal - I (=one) + deal

7. Guns - reversal of snug

9. Declaim - Dec. (=December) + laim (anagram)

13. Vikings - VI (=6) + kings

14. Cyanides - C (=100) + yanides (anagram)

17. Napkins - nap (reversal of pan) + kins (anagram)

18. Molest - mole + .tS (reversal of St. =street)

19. Latin - lain around (ac)t

21. Talc - (Quarte)t Alc(azar)

23. Car - car(e)