Crossword 681

Prize: £10 (or a copy of Chambers Dictionary, 1983 edition, value £11.95 — ring the words 'Chambers Dictionary' above) for the first correct solution opened on 12 November. Entries to Crossword 681, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WC IN 2LL.

Twenty radial lights run from rim to centre, 20 from centre to rim. Each italic clue comprises a definition of a word (e.g. ASPS) in which P stands for a male name which, when substituted, gives the required light (e.g. ASIANS) indicated by the cryptic part of the clue. The circuit next to the outer one contains, clockwise from radial 1, six words whose abbreviated forms spell out a relevant acronym.

Name Address RADIALS (6) 1 Fire half out — fan, blow back 21 2 Clipper gets a hedgerow shrub 22 out of line 3 See me in rich fancy tabard 23

4 Corded cloth, about standard

5 River-plants for border in 24 southern square

6 Venomous snake without keeps 25

Edward within 26

7 Once examined class orally 8 Well expert in Ayr plunged 27 down 28 9 Flaccid carp, that's clear 29 10 Pales, as a Shakespearian 30 specifies

11 Mate, labourer, quite short 31

12 Fishes, red, with faces of river salmon 32 13 White waders, say — rest 33 variegated 34

14 Cherishes party profits 35

15 Cabinet, Thatcher's latest, engaged in polishing act 36 16 Troublesome woman died hard 37

17 Tents strained endlessly

holding all right 38

18 Society girl, keenly Scottish 19 Musty goods at yard 39 20 Time brings to light interfering 40 The solution to Crossword 678 is on page 43. Dictionary prizes are sent out by the 'Post-a-Book' service. beldams Catch parent out Make submissive, as the Bard says in pentameters

Local soak lies wildly about measure

A chemical from tube mixed

with neon Month early with 'penny for guY Remove carbon ring in platforir with end of knife

Hamper evil in plot

Fished with line at Dee

Pointed arches: none yields , Makes deep researches, dead tricky ones

Sandy tracts in S. France seen from long range?

Mimics pretentious air in copPer Clouts about four clods

Strip and dip at strait

Fish worried about onset of tremors

One tempted, we hear, softened Get backing for guy — then one's in the money

Digestive enzyme for dad in trouble

Metal reflected, note, in gabbro Guy to burn? Proceed!