Times Jumbo 903

[amtaff]

Stuck on top right corner-help please. 9ac. Paper,through revolutionary clue, distressed girl?(6)???S?L. 14ac.Representation supporting Tom's seat?(6)???M?T. 22ac. Hard work to sing,being brave(5) ??I?A.

[mike11111]

9 Damsel

[amtaff]

Thanks- I like that. Lead (a clue) about MS backwards?

[mike11111]

14 Format

[amtaff]

Just got that myself.! I now have H?A?I for 22ac. Word wizard gives haika or haifa. Any thoughts?

[mike11111]

Is it H?A?I or H?I?A

[amtaff]

H?I?A. I'mgetting confused!

[mike11111]

This was your OP - ??I?A.
This is your later one - H?A?I
Are you sure about the A and I?

[amtaff]

Yes. Originally I hadn't got10d, which is abolisH.. The I is from 11d's simpatIco and the A from 11d's litterAteur, both of which look right.

[amtaff]

After some research I've come across a native American tribe HAIDA.. H==hard + AIDA,an operatic work, would fill the bill.

[amtaff]

Or fit the bill as well!

[mike11111]

Looks right to me but VERY obscure. I was thinking along Indian tribe lines, but none of the ones I knew seemed to fit the bill. The word is not in Chambers and I wonder how many people knew it.

[bradleyjohn]

Haida - not in Chambers (at least not in the two that I use) ... but you'll find it in Collins and Bloomsbury as well as the Shorter OED.

It's always worth having another look if you think you've cracked the wordplay, especially for something that is fairly obscure.

[Galloise]

Im not sure why format for 14AC - could you please explain?

Thanks

[Barnicat]

The Cat sat on the mat-Tomcat

[Barnicat]

The cat sat on the mat, Tomcat!!