Azed 2134

[mlso1]

12a Student endlessly studying eastern China. S??DE
8d Gin time - lubricant follows. T?i?.
They cross. I assume SPODE and TOIL but don't understand the wordplay in 12a or the definition in 8d. Thanks, Lynn

[vakayu]

8d tonic?

[vakayu]

sorry 4 letters

[Oldred]

gin as in trap

toil 2 (toil)
n.
1. Something that binds, snares, or entangles one; an entrapment. Often used in the plural: caught in the toils of despair.
2. Archaic A net for trapping game.

[kayakamina]

T(time) OIL (lubricant) = Toil - trap

[WyeDyed]

8d Toil?

[mlso1]

Thanks, all. I missed the second entry in Chambers. How about ?SPODE though. Lynn

[dr b]

spod = overly studious student
e = eastern
spode =china

[dr b]

specifically: spod = A dull or socially inept person, esp. one who is excessively studious; a person who pursues an unfashionable, technical, or esoteric interest with obsessive dedication.

[mlso1]

Doh! Missed that too. Thanks, Lynn