The Times Cryptic - Crossword Answers | 2023 09 07

crossword answers
Clue Answer
Come before red tape gets out of hand PREDATE
One in wild gang growing old AGING
Playwright again penning fairy story MOLIERE
Waiter cries — is completely lacking one salad ingredient WATERCRESS
Ancient Palestinian port given new operation CAESAREAN
Maintenance of standing defensive tower UPKEEP
Expression of surprise after strange card game RUMMY
Relating to X marks in elite exam ELECTORAL
Succeeds in getting piping for random attack POTSHOT
Gloomy main actor — heartless, even LEADEN
Greedy husky going after grub to polish off? GRASPING
Wonderful sex I quite spoiled EXQUISITE
College introducing ace tutor TEACH
Marine mollusc moves quickly, shedding skin CUTTLE
Shark pelt napper HAMMERHEAD
Bulls, say, in ring almost immediately going west OXEN
Late yawn may be hidden here BEHINDHAND
Split in Conservative radical wing CLEFT
Spear small fish SPIKE
What could be Margaret Thatcher’s order? CONFIGURE
A last word before English recess APSE
Tree covered in tinsel mainly ELM
Conductor let end of Kyrie and Credo go wrong ELECTRODE
Keen softly, having time in place of burial CRYPT
Failure of circuits announced LAPSE
Topic of article on Middle English THEME
Corral ram not able to be released pent-up
Right country for ancient Italian ROMAN
Bad defeat right round European league FEDERATE
Like hard wood ASH
Invite advance stream over BECKON
Disposal of waste article I found in railway halt SANITATION
Very good and lawful petition SOLICIT
Group openly gay and good-looking OUTFIT
Strong wind meeting hill church. This could strip surface BLOWTORCH