Genius Crossword N0. 244

[Matakari]

Seems stimulating! Seeking hints to crack this jig-saw attraction! Thanks in advance!

  1  Celibacy is a breeze primarily, then it's awfully concerning (10) ABSTINENCE
  4  Cold air conditioning annoys local political bosses abroad (8)
   15 Unusually, I'm racing first of heats in lake (8)
   5  County bridge opponents send rude message (5)  ESSEX
   6  Absolutely nothing about sailors being obsessive (9)
   14 We're told Harry's wife damages a lot of cycles (9)
   20 Shrewd, heartless staff officer has authority (3-2 ) SAY-SO
 8   If I jump on rides regularly, I could see them in Norway (6)
19 Devil worshipper butchered Stan at six (8)   SATANIST
16 Groom's outside church with soprano diva (8)
 24 Mr Bolt being pursued by flipping dog becomes exhausting (5,2)  USING UP

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari,that's a pretty long list! Could you add the VITAL information about superfluous letters?

 

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, your answers for 5,19, 20 and 26 are correct. Maybe  knowing that will make it easier for you to work out the superfluous letters? i know you're not keen on those - but every clue involves this device - I'm sure you wouldn't expect to be given every one of them...?

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I'll do my utmost to discover the superfluous letters. Hinys for the other clues, thanks! And here's the preamble to this one:

Clues are in alphabetical order of their solutions, which are to be entered in the grid jigsaw-wise, as they will fit. The wordplay in each clue contains superfluous letter. These will all be found around the perimeter of the completed grid. One solution (10,9) is not clued but is hinted at by the puzzle as a whole.

[Matakari]

You mean 24, not 26? A Freudian slip from "Strauss Work"..., hihihih

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. All these devices that you don't like, that are not 'your bag' really are so, so common in thematic puzzles, you'll need to bite the bullet one day!

 

14  is a 'sounds like' clue. You need the name of (Prince) Harry's wife and a word for 'damages', verb - the answer is a 'lot of cycles', I think it's a scientific term.

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, Matakari, yes, 24 - I was having to scroll up and down.

 

15 An anagram ,'unusually'is the indicator. It's a very famous, non British lake.

8 Alternate letters, leading to something very associated with Norway.

Remember the superfluous letter in both of those - and remember the alphabetic order.

[Matakari]

Nice hints for 14 and 15 that lead me to Megahertz and Michigan. Can't see which letter to begin with for the alternates in 8...

[cashier]

8   Fjords

[Matakari]

Thanks, cashier, I was expecting the alternate letters to flow closer together. Any more hints for the remaonder, 1, 4, 6, and especially 10?

[bobbinwales]

yes fjords (assuming the M  can be omitted as per a special instruction)

[bobbinwales]

They are alternate letters.... just omit the M

[Neveracrossword]

1 You just need another, very similar word for Celibacy, one that begins Abst... A Breeze primarily gives the AB, the word ends with the common (crossword) 'concerning'.

[Neveracrossword]

 ^ A word meaning 'being obsessive', I'm  6 about crosswords!  I think the 'absolutely nothing' leads to a slightly risque abbreviation, and an eight-letter word, general term, for 'sailors' (which loses a letter for the actual answer).

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, my last post referred to ^.

[Neveracrossword]

...6! Sorry.

[Matakari]

Sorry, I meant the remainder...

[bobbinwales]

ab then anagram thenits + on

[bobbinwales]

^ presuming you got to drop a letter.... in this case H????

[bobbinwales]

which are left now please Matakari (16?).... and you got any more letters now??

[Neveracrossword]

16 A word for 'grooms', verb, contains the usual 'church' and the usual 'soprano'. The diva  is just a ... demanding woman, a woman who expects the best of everything.