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There seem to be mixed views on whether it’s worthwhile continuing a puzzle that needs a huge amount of cold solving initially.
I have about 20 answers so far.
My idea for Dead hot…… gives a surplus letter that doesn’t fit well with the next two surplus letters.
For Latin with god….. ,there is a simple answer, but no idea of the wordplay.
For Milky white….., I can’t parse the final two letters of my answer.
For Inverted Jack, my answer doesn’t explain the box.

Any hints welcome, although I’m still doubtful about putting any in!
Thanks

The surplus letters only make sense when they are in grid order, not clue order.


The Pope in Latin begins with L

Milky white- even has a three letter synonym beginning with a

Inverted- there is a word meaning in a box that has a letter that is the additional one. Think décolletage!

I’m in the same camp as buddy. Think it’s a great, original puzzle.

Tough mind.

Thanks Twin

Thanks djawhufc

I’ve got your first three points, but still baffled by the box and décolletage!

Is there more than one 9 letter word that could in theory go across the middle? I'm looking at the latter part of the RH column

You're looking for a fairly common name for a box, dylan - 5 letters + ed (and drop the 3rd letter).
You don't want to look very far down that column, woodlouse.

Thanks DRXX

Very tough - yes...Requires a lot of cold solving? certainly...'Virtually unsolvable"? Not at all.

I think this is definitely going to be a contender for puzzle of the year. Well worth the struggle.

Agree with buzzb .. an excellent puzzle IMHO .. I thought the combination of alphabetical answers / double letters etc. gave a fair challenge (I’d solved about half before entering anything) .. good job Twin.

wow this is a battle - about 25 clues solved but no progress on the grid.

Are the enumerations the length of the answer or the number of squares used for the entry?