Mephisto 2551

[foxspur]

Apologies if this has already been answered but the site is so slow it would take me an hour to check back to this morning!
7dn Acquainted Arab with menu outsiders rejected (4)
If 15 across is STAMINIFEROUS, the F gives me A?IF for 7 down
15ac clue is Heartlessly critical, about thin fabricprovided, bearing flowery bits (13)
All help appreciated

[Totterdown]

15A - Yes, staminiferous.

I am also left with A?IF for 7D but can't make anything of it yet.

[Totterdown]

It must be ARIF surely.

I've now worked it out as = TARIFF (menu) outside letters rejected, leaving ARIF. I cannot find ARIF in Chambers and think in must be an arab name and the puzzle says Chambers but not for proper names.

[Lie-in King]

May I?

Arif means "acquainted, knowledgeable, knowing" & is in Chambers, in "Appendices" (Some first names)

[Totterdown]

Thanks Lie-in King. It's always nice to know how an answer is arrived at. I put ARIF anyway, but now know why it is that. Thanks again.

[foxspur]

Thanks, all, in fact "arif" or "araf " is (Egyptian) Arabic for "know".