Well, Novice, I'm glad you've seen the light. Any chance of you sharing the revelation? I'm currently just as befuddled as you were with a full grid. + ALL AT HOME, MOROSE & B & UNLESS.
Thank you Krauton. I think I see it now, but that doesn't mean I really "get it". The 9 synonyms are tenuous to say the least, and what do the words ALL AT HOME have to do with anything? I just found the crossword easy, but the endgame irritating.
I took ALL AT HOME to mean 'family' - another tenuous clue to the endgame. And why the emphasis on the 'patriarch' (mr), what about mrs, master and miss?