Cryptic Crossword Dictionary : A

ABNORMAL

Possibly an anagram indicator.

ABOARD

1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator indicating that letters or words are to be placed inside SS.

Sample clues:

Food taken aboard in large quantites (6)

Shopping area aboard ship supplies underwear (6)

2. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters ON.

ABOUT

1. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator for C or CA or RE.

Sample clues:

Explicit about king in play (5)

Young creature with about fifty feet (4)

Picture puzzle about public transport (5)

2. Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Care about size of field? (4)

Float about on high (5)

3. Possibly a reversal indicator.

Sample clues:

American soldier right about outfit (3)

Long story about a form of heating (4)

4. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clues:

Vessel about right for wine (4)

A poem about baby's first home (5)

Recommend about five new ideas (6)

ABRIDGED

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of a final letter.

ABSTEMIOUS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters TT.

ABSURD

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Disapprove strongly of absurd old peer (7)

ACADEMICIAN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RA (for Royal Academician).

ACCELERATION

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter G.

ACCEPTABLE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter U.

ACCOUNT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AC.

Sample clue:

True account by clergyman (8)

ACCOUNTANT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CA.

ACE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter A.

Sample clue:

Matches for ace in underwear (6)

ACTOR

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters HAM.

ADAPT

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Adapt recipe requiring skewer (6)

ADAPTED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

A cistern adapted as a container for food (8)

Show adapted to modern taste? (11)

ADDLED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

It's lovely having our egg so addled (8)

ADJUST

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Just adjust my reel (6)

ADJUSTED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

A solid form once adjusted (4)

ADJUSTMENT

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

A small adjustment for animals (6)

ADMIT

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clue:

Happy to admit copper is a metal (7)

ADMITS

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clue:

Unidentified girl admits nothing (4)

ADMITTED

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clue:

Greed is a weakness, a redhead admitted (7)

ADMITTING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clue:

Swiss community against admitting worker (6)

ADRIFT

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Get cast adrift in boat (6)

Concealed nets Iceland cast adrift (11)

ADULT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter A.

AFRESH

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Being most dilatory, I started afresh (8)

AFTER A FASHION

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Dance in Burma, after a fashion (5)

Wild party for Australian, after a fashion (10)

AFTER COMMENCEMENT

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of an initial letter.

AFTERNOON

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters PM.

AGAINST

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter V or the letters VS or CON.

AGE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters EON or ERA.

AGENCY

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CIA.

AGENT

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters REP or SPY.

AGITATED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

He's too agitated to calm down (6)

Tom and Anna, agitated, in a state (7)

AGREEMENT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters YES or AY or AYE.

French agreement may indicate OUI; German agreement may indicate JA; Italian or Spanish agreement may indicate SI.

AIRLINE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BA.

ALL OVER

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Indians chase pa all over (7)

Jumbo - the plane that's seen all over (8)

Soup made in Rome, sent all over? (10)

ALLOW

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters LET.

ALL RIGHT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters OK.

ALMOST

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of a final letter.

ALPHA

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter A.

(See NATO Phonetic Alphabet).

ALTER

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Alter altar for gay refrain (3-2)

Thing to alter between today and tomorrow (7)

ALTERATION

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Country noble with an alteration (7)

Trace alteration made by girl with a free hand (5,7)

ALTERED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

These are dark times - things must be altered (6)

Star seer altered claim again (8)

ALTERING

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Cast worth altering (5)

Musician altering suit in apartment (8)

ALTERNATELY

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the selection of alternate letters from a word.

ALTERNATIVELY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters OR.

ALUMINIUM

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AL.

(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).

Sample clue:

Where boats may be seen made of tin and aluminium (5)

ALWAYS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AY or AYE or EER.

AMERICA

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters US or USA.

AMERICAN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters US.

AMERICAN LAWYER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters DA.

AMIDST

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

AMISS

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Girl for hire, taken amiss (9)

AMOUNT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SUM.

ANCIENT CITY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters UR.

Sample clues:

Ancient city knocked over by a stone (4)

Bore stopped outside ancient city (7)

ANEW

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Some called anew for proportional representation (5,5)

ANGER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters IRE or RAGE.

ANGLO-SAXON

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AS.

ANNOUNCED

Possibly a homophone indicator.

ANNOY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters IRK.

ANOTHER WAY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

More than one knave travels another way (7)

ANSWER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter A or the letters ANS.

ANTEPENULTIMATE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter X.

ANYHOW

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Have a rest, being idle now anyhow (3,4)

APPEAL

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SA (sex appeal).

APPEARANCE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AIR or MIEN.

APPLE CORE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P.

APPROVAL

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters OK.

APPROVE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters OK.

AREA

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter A.

ARGON

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AR.

(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).

Sample clue:

Get close to neon and argon (4)

AROUND

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Follow headless queens around (5)

Santa sits around, requiring a helper (9)

They may be seen around in transport site! (5,8)

ARRANGE

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Begin to arrange a spree (5)

Arrange roster for holiday location (6)

ARRANGED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Bats are arranged side by side (7)

Flowers Lisa had arranged (7)

Break arranged in travel (7)

ARRANGEMENT

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Standard arrangement of tidy racks (9)

I decline no arrangement for a singer (6,4)

ARRANGING

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Sea-lord arranging trials (7)

I go nuts arranging trips (7)

ARSENIC

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AS.

(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).

Sample clue:

The snakes are venomous and arsenic's extemely poisonous (4)

ARTICLE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters A or AN or THE.

French article may indicate the letters UN or UNE or LA or LE or LES.

German article may indicate the letters EIN or EINE or DER or DAS or DIE.

Italian article may indicate the letters IL.

Spanish article may indicate the letters EL.

Foreign article, article from abroad, etc may indicate any of the foregoing.

ARTILLERY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RA.

ARTIST

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RA (for Royal Academician).

ASCENDING

Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).

Sample clues:

An insect, say, not very bright, ascending (5)

Stop artist ascending with others (6)

ASKEW

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Appearance of cap set askew (6)

ASPIRATE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter H.

ASPIRATION

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter H.

ASSEMBLE

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

It's bad luck when mechanics assemble (9)

ASSEMBLED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Had keen side assembled for game? (4-3-4)

ASSEMBLING

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Pirates assembling store of beer (11)

ASSEMBLY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

See UN Assembly follow (5)

Metal lamp unit needing assembly (8)

ASSENT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters YES or AY or AYE.

French assent may indicate OUI; German assent may indicate JA; Italian or Spanish assent may indicate SI.

ASSORTED

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

One who samples assorted treats? (6)

ASSORTMENT

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

No huge assortment is sufficient (6)

ASTRAY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Is led astray and doesn't work (5)

Silver seal going astray in French palace (10)

AS WE HEAR

Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clues:

A lord, as we hear, is to show up (6)

The team, as we hear, expressed discontent (6)

AT HOME

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters IN.

AT ODDS

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Europeans at odds in Sedan (5)

AT SEA

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Altering navy rig at sea (7)

It's truly deep at sea, so they say (9)

AT SIXES AND SEVENS

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:

Game with first of threes and nines at sixes and sevens (6)

ATTEMPT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters TRY.

AUDIBLE

Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clues:

A lord, according to hearsay, is to show up (6)

The team, according to hearsay, expressed discontent (6)

AUDIBLY

Possibly a homophone indicator.

AUDIENCE

Phrases such as for the audience or to the audience may be homophone indicators.

AUDITION

Phrases such as in audition may be homophone indicators.

AUDITOR

Auditor's or phrases such as for the auditor or to the auditor may be homophone indicators.

AURALLY

Possibly a homophone indicator.

AUSTRALIA

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AUS or OZ.

AUTHORISED VERSION

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AV.

AVENUE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AVE.

AWFUL

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Potato, for example, for an awful brute (5)

What thief might do - and how thief ends in awful peril (6)

AWFULLY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Awfully eager to assent (5)

Awfully versatile members of the family (9)

AWKWARD

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Tie up an awkward flower (7)

A complaint or awkward announcement (12)

AWKWARDLY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Clergymen dance so awkwardly (7)

Averse to labour, lie on bed awkwardly (4-4)

AWRY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clues:

Difference of opinion sends it awry (7)

Flag or sail hung awry (8)

AXES

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters XY.

Errors or omissions? Please let us know