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Puzzle #56– January 2006  "Trappings"

Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (words vary in length from three to eleven letters; they include three proper names, two foreign words, and one obsolete word), 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 line, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Five across words and four down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those nine letters, taken in order, spell a two-word phrase that describes the nature of the darkened central square. Four other words impinging on that square lose another eight letters, which, taken in order, spell another two-word phrase that further elucidates the nature of the square. As ever I am indebted to Kevin Wald for help with the clues. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid). [Want to see some hints?]

Across

  1. Endless anxiety starting to get in sync
  2. Fish run from misrendered barcarole
  3. Allow entrance to a day school
  4. Inside of pelt has label for coat
  5. Spice section
  6. Figure on finally replacing copy of something fine
  7. Sincere new entrant initiated into Legion
  8. Persistent breaking of bad rule
  9. To stand up in error is embarrassing
  10. Berate boy holding back a letter
  11. Warmer in outfield with wool
  12. Excellent position in box for trellis
  13. Astringent core of book is removed
  14. Norma's edited part of the NT
  15. Display standard score before end of game
  16. Check substitution of nitrogen for radical in stiffener
  17. One inside problem is something that balances
  18. Start to pray, have doubts, work out, and think
  19. Opening of manuscript
  20. Salzburg gentleman drowned in sherry
  21. Calder fashioned a framework
  22. Cut net looked commonplace

Down

  1. One with promise is more confused after start of class
  2. TV star comes back for Marx
  3. Speak about a way to love
  4. Box holding a hurt monkey
  5. Vowel in fair becomes bare and solitary
  6. An inventor and a beautiful Florentine
  7. Appeal to Parisian novelist
  8. Sound currency in a hiding place
  9. Primitive regret about end of world
  10. Hideous hedge surrounding lean-to
  11. Behold poet and saddler
  12. Mix maraschino without satisfactory instrument
  13. Subjective view of percepts I've reformulated
  14. Drunkard keeping quiet to see
  15. Elaborate discourse about number
  16. Turning handles with a sailor
  17. Apropos sacking Virginia, be a little gentler
  18. Dull start to living in group
  19. Throw any dice to get poison
  20. Be an essential characteristic of Rhine flowing east
  21. Jail Indian and Danish warlord
  22. Unhappy about earlier extension

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