Double Crossword

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. Slaughters large number – mixed races (9)

8. Five, that is, are in competition (3)

9. Class status of communal weighing device (6,5)

11. Determination needed to do the puzzle again? (7)

12. Send ball in the air by ante-room (5)

13. It may assume airs when plucked (6)

15. Its square is gross (6)

17. Stripes showing guerrilla leader in rank (5)

18. Furniture for ministers? (7)

20. Tidy arrangement for writing in priest’s office? (11)

22. Reduction of share? (3)

23. Tolerant and apparently leaving without difficulty (4-5)

Down

2. Fuss for some head of state (3)

3. Take advantage of one in molten rock thrown up (5)

4. Stopped moving colour round poor set (6)

5. What the bird presumably does to its food (7)

6. Topple because of surplus, perhaps (11)

7. Be sorry about changed month for compensation (9)

10. The chairman’s decider about the choice of actors? (7,4)

11. Defender returning immediately? (5,4)

14. Shorten a way over (7)

16. Makes quite a lot in game? (6)

19. Fetch bighead with telephone call (5)

21. Making best of bet is evil! (3)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Splendid (9)

8. Total (3)

9. Commendable (11)

11. Obscurity (7)

12. Lawful (5)

13. Tension (6)

15. Fruitlessly (2,4)

17. Build (5)

18. Unruly (7)

20. Parity (11)

22. Donkey (3)

23. End (9)

Down

2. Employment (3)

3. Heading (5)

4. Attack (6)

5. Dilated (7)

6. Society (11)

7. Powerlessness (9)

10. Unremitting (11)

11. Distribution (9)

14. Encroach (7)

16. Necktie (6)

19. Work out (5)

21. Sever (3)

Monday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: Across: 1 Damson; 4 Abacus; 9 Take the plunge; 10 Chapels; 11 Niobe; 12 Bench; 14 Tents; 18 Poser; 19 Sucrose; 21 Inflated price; 22 Gutter; 23 Festal. Down: 1 Detach; 2 Make a mess of it; 3 On the; 5 Balance; 6 Contortionist; 7 Sweden; 8 Verse; 13 Carnage; 15 Spring; 16 Asses; 17 Cereal; 20 Copse.

QUICK -

Across: 1 Bright; 4 Tamper; 9 Environmental; 10 Suspend; 11 Aerie; 12 Mirth; 14 Relax; 18 Quake; 19 Combine; 21 Idiosyncratic; 22 Tenant; 23 Sticky. Down: 1 Breast; 2 Investigation; 3 Horde; 5 Average; 6 Paternalistic; 7 Relief; 8 Snide; 13 Treason; 15 Squirt; 16 Scone; 17 Descry; 20 Merit.