Double Crossword

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. It raises the whole tone extremely quickly (6,5)

9. Abstainer drinking nothing – well, just a dram (3)

10. Successful jump in clean race? (9)

11. Encourages in crime when wager is included (5)

13. Hopelessness I spread around (7)

14. Rule G above N (6)

16. Emphasise the strain (6)

18. Took food after examination, having made a will (7)

19. Mali’s religion? (5)

20. They’re obviously for taking off! (9)

21. Is able to produce tin (3)

22. Does it indicate whether a medium’s going flat out? (6,5)

Down

2. Frequently having nothing to measure (3)

3. Gives support to players in defence (5)

4. Makes corrections as letter finishes (6)

5. Callous group, having completely lost fluidity (4-3)

6. Be involved in campanology and sound familiar (4,1,4)

7. Immediately find a direct route (11)

8. Concerning new students with time for enlivening (11)

12. Listen in as part of the roof falls? (9)

15. Nuclear plant concerning a thespian (7)

17. Don’t give in to sister, perhaps? (6)

19. Edition for children (5)

21. Signal taken by a snooker-player (3)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Biased (11)

9. Recede (3)

10. Refill (9)

11. Storey (5)

13. External (7)

14. Rejoinder (6)

16. Crustacean (6)

18. School subject (7)

19. Trifled (5)

20. Perplexity (9)

21. Coach (3)

22. Unfriendly (3-8)

Down

2. Abrade (3)

3. Juryman (5)

4. Spread out (6)

5. Feline (7)

6. Bitterness (9)

7. Execution (11)

8. Foot-doctor (11)

12. Eight-sided (9)

15. Bounce (7)

17. Hydrophobia (6)

19. Dance (5)

21. Insect (3)

Wednesday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Tree; 3 Erasures; 9 Ruffian; 10 Cover; 11 Single-minded; 13 Mutual; 15 Enrage; 17 Fiddlesticks; 20 Halma; 21 Marsala; 22 Matelots; 23 Shoe.

Down: 1 Tiresome; 2 Elfin; 4 Rename; 5 Second nature; 6 Riviera; 7 Sort; 8 Billiard-hall; 12 Seascape; 14 Triplet; 16 Helmet; 18 Crash; 19 Sham.

QUICK

Across: 1 Idle; 3 Pathetic; 9 Perfect; 10 Prong; 11 Dissertation; 13 Nuance; 15 Tendon; 17 Subservience; 20 Alibi; 21 Whatnot; 22 Greenfly; 23 Stud.

Down: 1 Impeding; 2 Lords; 4 Astute; 5 Hypothetical; 6 Twofold; 7 Cogs; 8 Repercussion; 12 Inverted; 14 Abusive; 16 Trowel; 18 Nonet; 19 Rang.