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we were very close in every respect, ardri.

mathsprofrockstar

Regarding the parsing of 42
Piped is an extra word (it goes with 2Dn's eventual entry. COTE has first 2 letters replaced with a 4 letter brass instrument)

Definition is "developmental stage" (e.g. butterfly)

"of" in the wordplay means you require a reversed adjectival form meaning "like an old script" (six letters) and ending in -IC, without the C. The old script is defined in Chambers thus
"an ancient alphabet used in Celtic and Pictish inscriptions, its letters consisting of sets of parallel lines meeting or crossing a base line (the corner of the stone monument often serving as the base line); any of its twenty characters; an inscription in this alphabet."

Thank you all for your help. I guess you took at my word that I am dense. At least this time I certainly was, because I kept putting the "c" at the wrong end as if it were part of the reversal. I can tell you that "cogami" is not a word.

Well, it looks more like a word that way around!

Just one more snag (I hope.) I have the grid filled but can’t figure 37d. I have the entry as being defined by an extra word in another clue, so it is thematic. But how?

Hi MPRS,

37d - Yes, it is thematic and is defined by "bulb".

It's 2 letters abbrev. for "part of UK" (A large part!) + single letter abbr. for "mobile" - definition is "game" (an old Chinese one which I'd never heard of).

It's tricky because the the thematic word replacing the 2 consecutive letters is itself an abbreviation.

Hope that helps but let me know if you want further hints.

Thanks, Brendan, that did it. In fact I’m familiar with the game so I should have got it, but I couldn’t get past the no thematic item issue. An abbreviation? That seems unfair.

Hmm, yes and no.

There is a three letter abbreviation for a pretty well-known brass instrument, but also a woodwind instrument xxx anglais (famously neither English nor a horn).

All good fun either way.

I stand corrected - again:-)

Morning, getting there with this but would appreciate some help to finish.
For 11a and 9d I have the grid entry but not the original words.
37d I have the game but can't work out the grid entry (despite earlier hints) and the rest of my SE corner is still pretty empty (need 28d, 33a, 34d and 36a)
Thank you!