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23A Developing fetus (7)

Do I have a right to feel cheated?
It was obviously embryo(s) but why plural?
Surely the clue should have been "Developing fetuses"!
Can anyone explain?

embryon (alternative spelling of embryo)

although Chambers shows embryon as "archaic"

3a definitely ends in an 's' ; - as 3d is pervasivenesS, so 'embryon' will not fit.
The answer to yesterday's puzzle is given as 'embryos', but as was originally pointed out , this is plural and the clue is asking for a singular answer. Yet another mistake by this setter? another possibility is that he/ she thinks that 'embryUs is the singular form!

The Times concise continues to annoy us. I did not have the crossword so apologies, but my answer seemed better ;) (although it did not fit)

We've been there before, haven't we , Jazzgirl? Re 'winter' v. 'bitter'. Maybe someone needs to have a word with the editor.

yes indeed Elle. Grrrr;)

perhaps they could stop using one word when it is actually two separate words the list is endless

Could it be that strictly the Latin plural of fetus is in fact "fetus" as its fourth declension (long remembered latin lessons, so could be off beam) so the plural is disguised?
http://www.cultus.hk/latin_lessons/declension/noun_4a.php?keyword=fetus&stem=fet&gender=m.&english=%20offspring/young/children/brood/litter

Actually, I think you're right, ab - I hadn't thought of that. I've just dug up my old Latin dictionary which covers 4th declension nouns too, and yes, fetus is the plural in Latin! but more commonly used these days as fetuses (or foetuses)
However, I'm not convinced that the setter is that clever??!!! (going off recent mistakes anyway!)