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I have it now, thanks. Problem, the theme word is not in the on-line Chambers, but is in (singular) in 13th edition. And the long entry, to be unjumbled, is not in either.
Presumably the long entry, unjumbled, is not one of those to be shaded, so another one has to be found, besides the 4 examples given. OK.
I really do not like the nondescript ending to the instruction down the LH clues. This borders on the nonsensical.

Could someone please enlighten me on how the "Darker trace" clue works? I was in Zante until Tuesday but some kind soul arrived with the Times and let me have the Listener crossword. I manged the grid fill sat in a bar with my tattered Bradfords, but the end game has taken several hours at home until the PDM came (about 5 minutes ago). It didn't help having the wrong answer for the "They feel" clue.

Gitto, It's a word for 'trace', as in 'a faint sign', with the second letter replaced by another.

Thanks mattrom, I should have seen that, but I didn't! It was the pluralisation within the clue that threw me.

Eenk, I draw your attention back to the use of 'character' to describe the extra item in each clue. See my previous. Not sure I can say much more.

No, eenk. It's telling you there is something relevant in the grid which needs slightly unjumbling before you can do what the lhs requires. Hope that is the nudge you need. There is nothing worse than getting stuck on the endgame!

Whistler,

A very belated thanks for your reply. I had completed the puzzle in any event, but I still hold to my criticism of the message.

Can anyone help with the parsing of the loaded dice clue? Is the first word of the clue a synonym for the first four letters of the answer? If so, why dice (pl)? I feel like I'm missing something...

I think the first word (with the letter removed) does kind of get you the first 4 letters - both can mean excellent.

Dice can be singular or plural.

Thanks, it makes sense if dice can be singular. "Chap for a" sounds like there might be a trickier substitution involved somehow. I'm overthinking it!