ACROSS 7 A figure of speech (6) 8 Sustain (6) 9 A European capital city (4) 10 The Greek god of war (4) 11 Back out (6) 12 Cockerels (6) 14 Curmudgeons (6) 17 Meagre (6) 19 Completion (8) 21 Maintain (4) 22 Plaster (6) 23 English cathedral city (6) DOWN 1 Communicate (with) (6) 2 A mention in dispatches (8) 3 Place of worship (6) 4 Medication (6) 5 The three wise men (4) 6 Bribe (6) 13 Throbs (8) 15 Unusual item (6) 16 Stopper (6) 17 Consider (6) 18 Large island in the Aegean Sea (6) 20 An island (4) Monday’s solution Across: 1 Vocabulary, 8 Nothing, 9 About, 10 Cock, 11 Much, 12 Ado, 14 Ennead, 15 Unplug, 18 Dun, 20 Firm, 21 Acer, 23 Waxed, 24 Lay down, 25 Inelegance. Down: 1 Vatican, 2 Coin, 3 Bagful, 4 Loathing, 5 Rioja, 6 Knocked down, 7 Strong drink, 13 Daffodil, 16 Lactose, 17 Prolog, 19 Nixon, 22 Lynn.