I’d appreciate a bit more on 1a, it ends with JE, and as I say, only five words match in the Chambers app. None mean hollow - noun, adjective or other.
Or help on 1d would work maybe.
1d is finer backward inside an abbreviation for pint giving a word which means to be broken off which has a root you will be familiar with and a prefix which you wouldn't automatically consider
Yes some are non words initially. A necessary device to make the end game work.
I initially thought we had two abbreviations but Chambers defines one of my candidates as a noun so the preamble is correct. I wonder how they decide what is an abbreviation and what is not.
Lumen, I haven't got the Chambers app. but I do use Chambers word wizard on the PC. That also only throws up 5 possibilities and none of them are the answer. It is in the dictionary though. It is also in Bradfords under a synonym for hollow.
smithsax - I think that what you thought was an abbreviation is described as a noun in the BRB because presumably people who use it say it as a one-syllable word. Note that dictionary gives pronunciation guidance to this effect.