Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (answers vary in length from three to eight letters, and one is capitalized) 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. Six across words won't fit in the grid unless a letter is added to form a new word, and six down words won't fit in the grid unless a letter is omitted to form a new word. In each case the six letters, in order of occurrence, spell a word appropriate to the addition or omission. (One of the newly formed words is foreign.) Thanks to Kevin Wald for test-solving and editing this puzzle. If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid.

1. A piece of earth containing a bit of lead gets traded
2. Spectacle that can be heard and observed
3. Concocted a plot to trap right guard
4. Thin-sounding and run-down after first of relievers takes son's place
5. Intractable as ever about rent
6. Fey sarcasm
7. Mom's married to the French guy
8. Lion demolished a cut of meat
9. Desire to start relaxing in rock shelter
10. Excitable woman has nasty fit in tower
11. Pot-stewed leek with bits of thyme and tarragon
12. Iron-containing porphyrin figures in chem experiment
13. Bog in Newtowncunningham, Ireland
14. The German turned scarlet . . .
15. . . . before long embracing, beginning to pet and caress
16. Brother running fair with rabbi
17. Passed out; dead; late; transmogrified
18. Deity has returned an organ
19. Alabama delegate embracing singer
20. A green renewal for Madden
21. Oddly prefer to see a man about a horse
22. Bishop with bird dog
23. Manage foul finish
24. Be about as low

1. Exorbitant pest freely consumes energy
2. Next real changes on the surface
3. Tests of standards not started
4. Great confusion surrounds start of international ranking system
5. Get beaten in closet
6. Dad accepts the French appeal
7. Field sullied by English dishonor
8. Spoke falsely of cap confining electron
9. Caught topless and reprimanded
10. Charioteer has run wild
11. Crook left in prison is a zero
12. Obtuse, stupid need to take series in
13. Common weapon doesn't have length
14. Prophet's cut minus 5
15. Rude monster harbors evil spirit
16. One man grabbing prisoner's spear
17. Social gathering never started or existed
18. Native American incorporates mostly old form of language
19. Cobb and Yastzremski get to throw back and forth
20. Meteor bursting in the distance
21. See Pepys losing head and going crazy
22. Scoring of craft in Chinese dynasty
23. Place of birth
24. Hail Republican in state
25. Because offspring don't remember