Speccie 2578

[pomona]

11a Smart monarch nailing the ceremony (6) N??T?R neater?

2d Woman,old, charged with energy ??E?E .....middle E if nEater is correct ?

5d Dated fashion of French fan (not English version) (6) EN?A?T

[Neveracrossword]

2 Olive, woman. O, old and Live, charged with energy.

[Neveracrossword]

11 Nipter,rite, ceremony. Nip, smart, T, the, ER, monarch

[pomona]

Thank you ...it's hard today!

[Neveracrossword]

Glad I could help, Pomona. Yes, it was tougher than many others, but very satisfying.

[Tilly2]

I've solved eight clues so far. :-)

[novalis]

5d - entail.
That was a real mental work-out.

[Neveracrossword]

Novalis, I agree - and I can imagine much help being sought! That 5 D/22 A combination took me ages.

[tedsgran]

Any hints please for the headword?

[Neveracrossword]

Tedsgran, the title of the puzzle was a massive help to me.

[novalis]

To add to NACW's helpful hint you could say it was a bit of a stretch.

[Neveracrossword]

...and for anyone 'disadvantaged' by not having Chambers, other dictionaries and online resources are available.

[tedsgran]

Thank you both......typical that was one of the 1st words i saw in the grid...now to see how it fits in with the unclued....

[FreyaBee]

I have the theme, but I may have made an error with 4d whichI have as a plant starting with V. Is this correct please ?

[Neveracrossword]

Freya, that's what I have too.

[FreyaBee]

Thank you NACW . Still stuck on 14a but I will work on that one !

[tedsgran]

freya ....look under grandparent and yes in bradfords red dictionary if you have it ....unusual words...but they fit the clue

[LancastrianOik]

I have Chambers but I can't see how my "unclued" answer to 4A works by fitting in with one of the eight definitions. Without giving too much away, achieving (my answer) could be likened to consuming gazpacho...

Otherwise, I have the puzzle completed.

[roslyn251254]

Lancastrian ... defn 2 of the headword ....starts with a W...check that defn

[Neveracrossword]

LancastrianOik, 4 A definitely works for me. If you re-visit the 'same as...' definition and follow that up, the very first definition witll resolve it for you.

[LancastrianOik]

Freya- I have that answer too. A shortened synonym for absolutely, followed by a four letter synonym for "fruitless".