This is a puzzle allowed for by the vagaries of newspaper design. I’ve noted on the Inquisitor homepage that the numbering sequence has been reset twice, as a result of various design changes at The Independent. The current numbers now reflect what would have been the case has the numbering been consecutive from the first puzzle back in 1988. This puzzle, from May 1997, would have been something like No. 450. But in fact – and you will want to bear this in mind while solving – it was actually No. 100.
10 entries (all words) are clued without definitions. They would have something in common were a word added to them, as one normally-clued answer exemplifies. This additional word (which solvers should give with their solutions) appears to be appropriate, though purists might disagree!
ACROSS
1 Argument recalled by monarch (7)
6 Wet sound made by rain shower entering Lake? On the contrary (5)
10 Sleeping society girl, one rolling over (4)
11 Church leads discussion after casting the first stone? (5)
12 Rake about for a bet, possibly (9)
13 Cowgirl’s 500, perhaps (4)
14 More important feminist penning a tome’s introduction (7)
15 I’m second into lakes for dips (8)
18 Phi’s upset (4)
20 Bird found among passerines: tern? (6)
22 Writer has it bottled (4)
24 Men shunning new purchases (4)
26 Black outcrop of rock (6)
27 King is tucking into drink (4)
28 Battered cod with lemon – improving sight? (8)
30 Some furnishing sport will want to bring in All Black (7)
33 Child with siblings somewhere in school? (4)
35 Dribbling or attentive? (9, three words)
36 Stop Conservative getting ahead of the rest (5)
37 Type of melon for which there’s zero information (4)
38 Murders expressing evil (5)
39 Initially lacking in courage (7)
DOWN
1 Comedian clutching part of leg (7)
2 Instrument, round black one, with centre drilled out (4)
3 Back leader of military to get more weapons (5)
4 Rice came prepared as dessert (8)
5 Good work by police, flushing out swindler’s primary rooftop hideaway (6)
6 Fruit puree initially missing from list (4)
7 Hated article carried in freight (7)
8 Bet 31’s sound (4)
9 Fool’s sending pawn after castle, nothing less (5)
16 Timid male’s startled cry (4)
17 Walker’s a good man on a wave (8)
19 Dean involved in running Ely (4)
21 Lad devours list for cheese (7)
23 A contributor in inspissated dinginess (7)
25 Sack upended and emptied to reveal hard cheese (6, two words)
27 Seconds indicated by sound of clock? (5)
29 Gent’s first to be restricted by mostly frightful disease (5)
31 Isn’t crudely putting down one showing opposition (4)
32 Notice book’s overturned (4)
34 Last word? Here’s one found by people (4)
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