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Ok I found the parsing for 5D in this thread. Would never have got that, nice clue though (especially the "Simpleton over time" part).

I can't parse 3D either (specifically letters 1, 3 and 4, I can parse the rest). I can't see how the 3 letter word means "was effective"?

Hi PS,

3d - the point at which a clutch might take effect, for example, is the ..... point then just change it to past tense.

Hmm not a fan of that one then. A very obscure meaning of "was effective" that.

Ok Chambers has that as definition 6 but it's still extremely obscure IMHO.

6 intrans to start to have an effect, usually an adverse one.

All parsed now, cheers.

I also didn't know the meaning of the answer (until now) but obviously I was aware of the word from the name of a play.

By coincidence I watched the film version a week or so ago, still very funny 😀

Thanks all for you help, not at all easy and no way I could have done it on my own. The early hint for 2d was the key that started things unfolding.
FOI was 18d and LOI 15d - had assumed it ended in INGS so took a long time to wrangle.
COD 10 - made me laugh out loud.
Now I’ve just got to read the rest of the paper! 😊

Thanks, Brendan. All clear now.
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