by Ken Greatorex
Here are five sets of ten clues that might be encountered in a crossword. In each set, a certain pair of letters in a certain order is given in correct position in each word.
Write the word suggested by each clue. NOTE: Spelling throughout is Australian / English
Scroll down to the bottom for a link to the answers page
SET 1
(PH Words)
a) Portion of text beginning with an indentation on a new line.
P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H
(b) Square pedestal
P _ _ _ _ H
(c) Die, disappear, suffer destruction
P _ _ _ _ H
(d) One who has a diminished sense of social responsibility
P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H
(e) Midsection, belly
P _ _ _ _ H
(f) Cross, querulous, fretful
P _ _ _ _ _ H
(g) Outcast
P _ _ _ _ H
(h) Male family head
P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H
(i) Make smooth and glossy
P _ _ _ _ H
(j) Simmer in a shallow pan
P _ _ _ H
SET 2
(TR Words)
(a) Minstrel
T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R
(b) Religious knight
T _ _ _ _ _ _ R
(c) Succession of small tremulous sounds
T _ _ _ _ _ R
(d) Having the title and honors belonging to an office without the duties, functions or responsibilities
T _ _ _ _ _ R
(e) Member of an acting or performing group; OR, one who persists through difficulty or hardship without complaint
T _ _ _ _ _ R
(f) Lethargy, apathy, dullness
T _ _ _ _ R
(g) A form of betting invented by an Australian
T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R
(h) Drunkard
T _ _ _ R
(i) Rev counter
T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R
(j) The French flag
T _ _ _ _ _ _ R
SET 3
(BN words)
(a) Agreement between two major political parties.
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
(b) A person given to coarse or undignified joking.
B _ _ _ _ _ N
(c) Popular board game
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
(d) Nomadic arabs
B _ _ _ _ _ N
(e) Division into two equal parts
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
(f) Military unit composed of a headquarters and two or more companies.
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
(g) Inflammation of the of the big toe
B _ _ _ _ N
(h) Uncivilised person
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
(i) Petty naval officer in charge of rigging, anchors, cables, etc.
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
(j) Castigated, nagged
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N
SET 4
(AH words)
(a) The Once and Future King
A _ _ H _ _
(b) Fishy pizza topping
A _ _ H _ _ _
(c) Toxophilist’s sport
A _ _ H _ _ _
(d) While, even if, despite the fact that, notwithstanding
A _ _ H _ _ _ _
(e) Animal capable of living both on land and in water
A _ _ H _ _ _ _ _
(f) The power to enforce laws, command or judge
A _ _ H _ _ _ _ _
(g) Ordering system based on letters
A _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _
(h) The moulding around a door or window
A _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _
(i) Very high-ranking member of the Christian clergy
A _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _
(j) Principled Greek who cried “Eureka!”
A _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _
SET 5
(BO words)
(a) Healthily plump, full-bosomed
B _ _ O _
(b) Russian wolfhound
B _ _ _ O _
(c) Precious metal in bars or ingots
B _ _ _ _ O _
(d) Power shovel, excavator
B _ _ _ _ O _
(e) A citrus-like aromatic oil
B _ _ _ _ _ O _
(f) Trend which rapidly attracts supporters
B _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
(g) Houses of ill repute
B _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
(h) Game requiring a net
B _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
(i) Bestower, donor, giver
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
(j) Board game
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _