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Guest Puzzle December 2011  "Acidify" by Arthur Schless

Instructions: : Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (answers vary in length from three to eleven letters; five are capitalized, and one is a two-word phrase) then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right continue on the next row, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Four across words and five down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those nine letters, taken in order as they occur in across and down words, spell a three-word phrase that explains how two across words and three down words must be treated before they will fit in the grid.. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid).

Across

  1. Chemical secretion provoked by more confusion in speech sound
  2. Surfeit I leave in place
  3. Writer returned film about batter with no degree
  4. Require the French pointer
  5. Command of word; erudition
  6. The top came off
  7. It's more insane to join
  8. Catch headless gastropod
  9. Charged particles, as in one endless jumble
  10. Sick, tired, without energy for pornography
  11. Curved line hit, making great run
  12. Urged and pleaded before bishop left
  13. French movie star from outskirts of Tahiti
  14. Initially low quality for a bush
  15. Red-yellow covering of stain
  16. So king is unwell
  17. Rabbi in taxi is a grouch
  18. Unruly tot goes inside truck for tool
  19. Previously okay
  20. Cycle of many earths
  21. Dancing star's tricks
  22. Prisoner holding large tool
  23. Cessation of most operations
  24. Animal ate under cover
  25. Appearance and evolution of the peony after start of paleolithic

Down

  1. Polite English chemist managed to get up and grab one
  2. Otter digested cake
  3. Stella has to confess
  4. Babes losing heads for yokels
  5. Fellow with ancient pen
  6. Noisy shopping center club
  7. Cabbage and kicker brew
  8. Gibson turned up no fruit
  9. Gracefully takes heat
  10. Ultimate reality of game with daughter
  11. Scooter is carrying comedienne
  12. Neurotic about money
  13. Left drenched with last of rain
  14. Camera shots of Henry in rough topography
  15. Seen running in front of band looking disdainful
  16. Help first and second alien
  17. Overpowered by wrestling pro's speed
  18. Leader returned from roaming
  19. Frontiersman having a row
  20. Current from repaired dynamo
  21. Abohar python wrapping around shrew
  22. Igneous rock in great upheaval
  23. Fish with no part damaged
  24. In disaster, upset actor has pet

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