Mephisto 3082 – by Don Manley

Unless you’re very experienced you are unlikely to solve a Mephisto without using Chambers. The idea is that you use the precise wordplay to derive an answer that you then verify in the dictionary. 14A is a perfect example.

A puzzle of no more than average difficulty

In the clues, definitions are underlined. Wordplay explanation is followed by very helpful comments.

ACROSS

3 Revolutionary made a beastly sound, responded loudly as before (10)

REBELLOWED: REBEL-LOWED;

11 Like nerves maybe in second test when there’s a run out (6)

RETIAL: RET(r)IAL;

12 Good person thus allied is to become dull (6)

AGNATE: (st)AGNATE;

13 Screen in dining room (5)

GRILL: two meanings

14 A refusal by English girl creates a sort of sensation (7)

ANOESIS: A-NO-E-SIS;

16 Ladies perhaps in vehicle, attractive but denied kiss (6)

CARSEY: CAR-SE(x)Y;

17 Decay around is producing woe (6)

TSURIS: RUST reversed – IS;

20 A setter somehow has to be exact (7)

ESTREAT: (a setter)*;

21 Parasites attaching to a woman (5)

ALICE: A-LICE;

22 Principles of Henry VIII’s opponent (5)

MORES: two meanings, the second a reference to Sir Thomas More

23 Flighty type — minor drudge working on the paper? (7)

HACKLET: a hack is a newspaper reporter so a “HACKLET” is a minor “hack”

26 Good prince in wheeled vehicle (6)

GHARRY: G-HARRY;

27 Sarah has home by a sort of lake maybe (6)

SALINA: SAL-IN-A;

29 Pollution as before certain to include greasy liquid (7)

SOILURE: S(OIL)URE;

30 Tribes are hiding with monkey around (5)

SAKAI: SAK(A)I; SAKI=monkey; A=are;

31 Explains part of building to daughter and son (6)

AREADS: AREA-D-S;

32 Flowery bits presented with the last word followed by cheers (6)

AMENTA: AMEN-TA;

33 Beam shown by fellows when expert’s brought round financial allocation (10)

DEFRAYMENT: DEF(RAY-MEN)T;

DOWN

1 Keen to have dispute when time is limited (6)

ARGUTE: ARGU(T)E;

2 Hedgehog in heather is so needly (8)

HERISSON: hidden (heat)HER-IS-SO-N(eedly);

4 Awfully idle in old age (4)

EILD: (idle)*;

5 Most perverse folk with a drink problem entering empty club (8)

BALKIEST: B(ALKIES)T; club=bat;

6 Certain snakes to glide away with tail disappearing (5)

ELAPS: ELAPS(e);

7 Fish bordering church window (6)

LANCET: LAN(CE)T;

8 Experts offering big lies (5)

ONERS: two meanings;

9 Cross once about attack interrupting merrymaking (9)

WASSAILRY: W(ASSAIL)RY;

10 Old-fashioned pattern of French art seen in physics unit (6)

DESYNE: D(ES)YNE; verb to be, thou art in French is tu ES;

15 Help for people not in workhouse fantastic, willingly given (9)

OUTRELIEF: OUTRE-LIEF;

18 This came to be artistic movement (8)

TACHISME: (this came)*;

19 Irritate expert — last character to savour old-fashioned strife (8)

ACERBATE: ACE-(savou)R-BATE;

22 Agents providing publicity for clothes-hire firm? (6)

MOSSAD: MOSS-AD; reference Moss Bros where we hire our monkey suits;

23 Listens to end of commentary that’s funereal (6)

HEARSY: HEARS-(commentar)Y;

24 Ruddy bully endlessly grabbing one (6)

TYRIAN: TYR(I)AN(t);

25 Depression’s evident in short Oxford term (5)

HILAR: HILAR(y);

26 Brightness of learner in extraordinary game (5)

GLEAM: (game)* surrounds L

28 Drug smuggled by vessel in French port (4)

CAEN: CA(E)N;