BLANKOUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four, guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 11 – ‘Abundant’ – which yields the word ‘Ample’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry.

ACROSS

1 Bottomless pit; Financial resources 2 Alcoholic drink made from pears 3 Devastation; Rugby huddle 4 Skydiver’s canopy

5 Number of deadly sins; Adjust again 6 Flat, round plate; Sunflower pip, eg 7 Creative work

8 Contribution; Evil spell

9 Feature to which mascara is applied 10 Give up work; Despot

11 Abundant

12 Bony structure connecting our trunk and legs; Shrewdness

13 Tower and spire of a church

14 Musical pace; Wanderer

15 Piece, segment

16 Barber’s clippings; Animal’s hind part 17 Block of precious metal; A state of affairs contrary to expectations

18 Vibration

19 Devil; Regretfully

20 Minor obstacle, snag

21 Quick nap, ___ winks; Avoid a duty

DOWN

A Notoriety

B Defeated; Dye used for denim jeans C Petty quarrel; Baby sheep

D Tilted, inclined; Large wasp

E Metal case for holding food; In quarantine

F Bread ingredient

G Set the boundaries of; In the earliest stages

H Become void

I Company of musicians; Male head of a family

J Pilfer

K Elastic; Earthenware products L Go beyond; Evangelise

M Field, domain; Change residence N Sterilise a male cat or dog; Person who fishes

O 100-year anniversary