Enigmatic Variations N0. 1659 By Eclogue

[Matakari]

Many thanks, NACW, I’ve got the link for Brewer's and am signing up for an account.
Meanwhile, I am having a look at this week’s EV that seems interesting.
I’ve got quite a few answers, but would appreciate an answer to one of
the 10-letter clues to set me on the right track. Thanks in advance!

23 Remarkable mobile phone marks indicating passage in retrospect ( 10 ) (PAGANISES)
                ( I don’t think this is right, though. )

PREAMBLE: Reading clockwise from the top left corner is the first line of a PROBLEM ( in ODQ, with a change of article ) followed by the “setter”, the solution to which is the unclued entry. Unchecked letters in the perimeter could provide FRANFRONTSBLUFFS. Clues are provided in alphabetical order of their answers, which should be entered wherever they will fit. Eight clues each contains an extra word. The length of each answer in this group will provide the index to use when extracting a letter from its extra word. In clue order these letters spell out the source of the theme. Chambers Dictionary ( 2016 ) is recommended.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. 

23 is not Paganises (I don't know how you were parsing that!). As you're asking for only one answer, here it is - Phenomenal,remarkable. (Anagram of Phone, M, marks and the there's lane, assage, reversed  at the end).

 

PS Two other 10-letter clues involve anagrams, so should be doable for you. With those three answers, it'll be much easier to slot things in. Good luck!

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I cannot trust myself, I actually had the answer, parsing the first part, phone, but the second part I did not see, though "remarkable" should have given it to me! I've already got the other two, so I'm about to juggle with these to see how far I can reach.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I'm sure you've noticed that the three 10 letters answers and the Unclued 10 letter answer intersect. I had two attempts at slotting them together before anything started working. I ignored the Unclued entry until I had a good few answers entered in.

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I’ve got the long words slotted in and a few more fit snugly. With the following I should get closer to spotting the problem:
 

26 Old poet’s tumult compounding error that’s never-ending ( 4 )
12 Short, sharp head of guards lifting creep ( 4 )
14 Husband advanced by mistake in sandstorm ( 6 )
32 Unconventional system that’s wrong ( 6 )
11 Perhaps aged pheasants about-face and panic in that which prevents distraction ( 7 )
20 Items of expenditure breaking repentant Scot with son ( 7 )

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks,Matakari - and yes, getting a batch of six answers should certainly get you closer. Have you got no letters for any of those? 

20 Matakari friendly, simply an anagram of two words in the clue.

32. A three letter word for 'system', how you would do something and a usual three-letter 'wrong' (as in 'not correct').

12 A common word for 'sharp', as in a knife, blade etc, it loses its last letter and is reversed after the 'head' of guards (common crossword device). The answer is a 'creep', though I'd never seen that definition until I checked Chambers.

 

As these are alphabetically ordered, you should have some idea of the starting letters...

12

[Matakari]

Good morning, NACW, thanks for your hints! I learned the use of two words from among them. I would be happy to have hints for the other three:
26 Old poet’s tumult compounding error that’s never-ending ( 4 )
14 Husband advanced by mistake in sandstorm ( 6 )
11 Perhaps aged pheasants about-face and panic in that which prevents distraction ( 7 )
 

 

[professorplum13]

11 Perhaps aged pheasants about-face and panic in that which prevents distraction ( 7 

26 anagram of erro (error without lastletter?

14 1 letter for husband + 1 letter for aged + 4 lettermistake...defn sandstorm

 

 

[Matakari]

Many thanks for those two hints, professorplum13!
And 11 Perhaps aged pheasants....?
Thanks!

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari, glad you're making progress.

11 Begins with an old three-letter word for a brood of pheasants, the rest is an everyday word for a panic, bit of commotion.  Chambers describes the seven letter answer as ' a blinker on a horse's bridle' , so something that 'prevents distraction'.

[newmodarmy]

Matakari  must have that one now with that hint

[Neveracrossword]

NMA, here's hoping! 

[Matakari]

Great hints for 11 and 26! Help for this batch would be welcome, thanks!

7 In French bodegas brought up unchanged internal cleansers ( 6 )
8 Minister resolved method of influencing policy ( 7 )
16 Bad turn involving Al gets one subject to inescapable routine ( 6, 3 words )
18 Southpaw, perhaps, almost dropped in return match ( 6 )

 

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, thanks. With the long answers entered and the help already given, are you making progress with filling up the grid? I found that there came a point when the entries already in meant I could concentrate on, say, the 6-letter words nearby. That was actually really good fun!

8 and 18 are simply anagrams.

7 - In French indicates the usual two-letter word, followed by the reversal of  an everyday word meaning 'unchanged'. The definition is extremely useful - internal cleaners...

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, sorry - it's 8 and 16 that are anagrams. For 18, look up Southpaw in Chambers, that should be a big help...

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I’m enjoying the hints and have a good bunch of answers to juggle with, but the 5-letter clues are a bit daunting. Help with these should, I hope, do the trick:

13 Medicine for women to give birth in theatre to young on vacation, then coming round ( 5 )
19 Floor-coverings with seller’s option having nothing for backing ( 5 )
3 Administer the last rites to one in Scotland on endless meadows ( 5 )
30 Irish person that’s supercilious, soon to be corrected with time ( 5 )

 

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I think it'd be fairer to say you're finding the whole puzzle daunting!

13 Gynae

19 Linos

30 Snoot

These are all fairly easy to parse, so I'll leave you to do that(if you want).

 

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, I missed one out of that latest batch.

3 Anele (Ane +Le(a). The definition will be in Chambers.

[Matakari]

Good morning, NACW, this one has become a struggle indeed. And rather than abandon, I seek answers for my own edification, thanks.

5 Palm smack acceptable? Unlikely (5 )
15 Bear right nonsense in some parts ( 5 )  AREAS
21 Overturned menagerie that is starting to rot is more leaky (7 )  RISOTTO
25 Secure Queen ordinary traditional hotel ( 5 )
29 Glide and slide miles ( 4 )  SKIM
 

From hints provided, I got the following for which I seek verification:
7 In French bodegas brought up unchanged internal cleansers ( 6 )
     ( Fr + Same ) FRAMES
26 Old poet’s tumult compounding error that’s never-ending ( 4 )
         ( Anagram of ERROR without the last R = RORE )

 

[newmodarmy]

Frames is wrong. It's En french for in not fr for french

[newmodarmy]

And SAME backwards