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....VERY difficult today with far too many obscure/obsolete words in wordplay and answers.

... I liked the obscurities, some new and interesting words and definitions!

I managed to get through this and like you, Malone, I liked some of the more obscure words and definitions.

Thanks, AP, I am always happy when even one person likes a puzzle (or even just an aspect of a puzzle) as much as I did! It was tricky in places, but that just makes it more satisfying to finish.

Might we imagine “Mrs Bierce’s (Devil’s) Crossword Dictionary”? “Wilfully obscure. Definition: I did not know that.”

Apologies if that seems unkind. It was meant to raise a smile, not a sneer.

Thanks, jack. No, that did make me smile. A few years ago it would have been different, that was when I bristled and bridled at 'wilfully obscure' clues and answers, thinking 'How is anyone supposed to know that?'. I then reminded myself that the setter obviously knew 'that' and probably quite a few solvers did too. So long is a clue is fair and the answer is... gettable, I try not to moan too much.

Jack

Fair comment. I could not get going with this Ev.

A challenge but very enjoyable.

I thought this was excellent. Certainly not easy, but WordWeb Pro, which allows you to search definitions in Chambers for particular words, made it much less of a struggle, as did Quinapalus Word Matcher. Is that cheating? I don’t submit, so in my book all aids are fair game

I enjoyed this, too. I “lucked out” (deferential nod to a couple of the unclued entries) when a few of the early omitted letters gave a connection to the title. Later it became clear that the apparently very helpful first few down letters were not quite as I had envisaged them; but by then I was well underway. Thank you, Ace of Hearts.