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Lumen, for 17 'essence' is another word for centre, middle, so 'essence of' leads to... This is followed by the common four-letter 'wise'.


24 Nancy = you need a French word, followed by the initials of Eliot, the poet/dramatist.

Thanks for 17 malone. I did wonder about 'usage' earlier, so I got close, but not right!
As for 24, I got the French connection way back at breakfast time, but guess my French knowledge is just not up to it, as NOMTS is not word and that's all I can come up with.

Lumen, you and I are in about the same place. I just happened to stumble into 35. However, 17 was the easiest for me - the language is of a tribe located right here in Oklahoma. I’m stuck on 33 and 37 too though. I’ve been thinking “guild” for 33 but if that’s it I can’t parse it.

“Gu” is a type of instrument.

Thanks Lumen,

33 - Is a 4 letter "financial system" (it was also a word sometimes used to describe an unemployment benefit cheque, as in I'm waiting for my .....) around a single letter for "acceptable" (as coined by Nancy Mitford I learned recently) - definition is an "instrument".

37 - Is the first 4 letters of an 8 letter word/"halved" meaning "relations between states" (as carried out by people who work in the embassy?) + single letter for "November" - definition is "nucleus".

2 - A word meaning "relationship" (as in mathematics) with the i/"one" changed/"sacrificed" to a O/"nothing" - definition is "Javan ruler".

10 - 3 letters for "surrender" followed by 2 letters for "in enemy's head" - definition is "he pushed knife" (he actually has a knife named after him and it's also the name of a deceased British rock star who, were he still alive, would have celebrated his birthday last week).

17 - Single letter for "essence of seriously" + 4 letter word for "wise" - definition is "language" (a Native American one)

24 - 3 letter French/"Nancy's" word for "named" followed by "Eliot's" (the poet) initials/"introductory letters" - definition is an archaic/"forgotten" word meaning "poems".

PS> Other than the knife and language, I didn't know any of the words!

2 I got also because the “relationship “ is mathematical. Then change the I to O.

Completed but a tough, all-dayer for me! The Archers Omnibus will have to wait until tomorrow now. Surprised no-one has mentioned the same theme(literally) in Kruger's recent (Dec. 12) offering in the Inquisitor.

Thanks very much, I have them all now except the French part of 24.

24 - I'd say it means "said" more than "named" but I'm not great at French.

You are correct, Brendan. I looked through the crossword dictionary for words for poem and found it. The first three letters do indeed mean “said” en francais.