December 2018 Crossword – Compiled by Jeannie Hollands

Across

1 “___ ___ made moan” (carol) (6,4)

6 Shape (4)

10 Cold ale (3,4)

11 4th Old Testament book (7)

12 Good-luck charm (9)

13 “And His cradle was a ___” (carol) (5)

14 Light wood (5)

15 Envelope containing wages (3,6)

18 Indian believers (9)

21 Metric weight (5)

22 “___ __ here below, below” (carol) (3,2)

25 Office of C of E parson (9)

27 Of acid, corrode (3,4)

28 Self-indulgent activity (3-4)

29 “This holy ___ of Christmas”(carol) (4)

30 December 25th? Contemporary (7-3)

Down

1 Belief (5)

2 Declared invalid (9)

3 “Thus spake __ ___, and forthwith” (carol) (3,6)

4 “___ped the Beloved” (carol) (7)

5 Convent (7)

7 “He, the Alpha and ___” (carol) (5)

8 Christmas decoration (9)

9 Hebrew prophet (4)

14 US states where Protestant fundamentalism is dominant (5,4)

16 Postmeridian (9)

17 Ruler when Jesus was born (4,5)

19 “Whereon the ___ of the world was born” (carol) (7)

20 Win (7)

23 Toned (anag.) (5)

24 Grunt (4)

26 Opium flower (5)

December 2018 Cryptic Crossword – Compiled by Peter Chamberlain

Across

1 Not suitable, having had insufficient exercise (5)

4 “And when to ___ they came” (carol) (9)

9 One holding unconventional belief at this place had habitual response (7)

10 Theologian goes round bend and finds deity (7)

11 Poser with a nervous twitch? That’s questionable (11)

13 Works round psalms (3)

14 Limited it in excellent surroundings (6)

15 Dee leaves residue for one staying behind (8)

18 Even went first and scored equaliser (8)

20 One churchman or another going round Colorado (6)

23 Tenth letter from bird (3)

24 Rebecca’s son’s workers have surveying instrument (6,5)

25 Firm soil’s been displaced for statues (7)

26 Horse Scotsman took to desert (7)

28 Royalty in club restaurant (9)

29 Unending elegy I composed in Belgium (5)

Down

1 Not optimistic having one in France with confident desire before outbreak of flu (9)

2 “Came He a world ___” (carol) (7)

3 Teetotaller takes nothing in, not even this (3)

4 “All for love’s sake ___st poor” (carol) (6)

5 Got over anaesthetic at the same time (8)

6 Clad with shapely assortment in part of churches (4,7)

7 Dance round new hood (7)

8 Prophet Amos especially included (5)

12 “___ ___, sweetly sleep, do not stir” (carol) (6,5)

16 Circular barrier? (4-5)

17 One of three early visitors Melvyn upsetting choir (8)

19 A lively sort of fabric (7)

21 After no end of tea, Celia removed cup (7)

22 Off ered up one devoted to monastic life (6)

23 Twin sheep in 24 across (5)

27 “And through ___ His wondrous childhood” (carol) (3)

Solution to November 2018 Crossword

ACROSS: 1 Faithful; 5 Stupid; 9 Ticklish; 10 Cleric; 11 Emmanuel; 14 Duff up; 15 Arrayed; 16 Fixive; 19 Angelic; 20 Assisi; 21 Susanna; 26 Te Deum; 27 Nativity; 28 Slavic; 29 Taj Mahal; 30 Design; 31 Stand pat.

DOWN: 1 Father; 2 Income; 3 Helena; 4 Ulster; 6 Talmudic; 7 Paraffin; 8 Decipher; 12 Uranium; 13 Lateran; 14 Defiant; 17 Baptised; 18 Used cars; 19 Assuring; 22 Natant; 23 Airman; 24 Bishop; 25 Eyelet.

Due to the error in October’s clues, there are no quick crossword prizes this month.

Solution to November 2018 Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS: 1 Jeremiah; 9 Evened up; 10 E-fit; 11 Hot gospeller; 13 Acrobat; 15 Banquet; 16 Daily; 17 Greed; 18 Weird; 20 Marsh; 22 Riveter; 23 Satanic; 25 Old Testament; 27 Icon; 28 Lichgate; 29 Salinity.

DOWN: 2 Enforcer; 3 Enthronement; 4 Instead; 5 Herod; 6 Respray; 7 Idol; 8 Spirited; 12 Liquefaction; 14 Tamar; 15 Bless; 17 Gargoyle; 19 Raincoat; 20 Messiah; 21 Hateful; 24 Hades; 26 Duck.

Winners: October 2018 Cryptic Crossword – Mrs Carol Grant, Carluke; Henry Weir, Stow.