Enigmatic Variations 1749 Connections by Ranunculus

Two oversized answers requiring a symbol to enter them – and then changing some cells to enter a name associated with this connection. So all in all very straight forward for an EV.

The first sign I got of the theme was when I noticed duplicated answers at 11 and 12 dn and 25 and 29 dn. USER and HOST and being in the computing world the user @ host structure immediately came to mind. ATRIA and MANAT being the oversized across entries allowing the @ symbol to replace ‘at’.

There remained the minor matter of who starting the ’email’ structure we are all so familiar with – it was RAY TOMLINSON who repaced teh relevant cells between teh two @s in teh centre of teh grid. Preserving real words in the final grid of course

And that was that – great clue at 33ac. My favourite one for a long while.

Cheers Ranunculus – liked the subject matter too

Key * anagram; DD double definition; Rev. reversed; underline definition

Across
1 Bogus cops stop aristocratic ruffian (6)
mock (bogus)n around ho (stop) = MOHOCK

6 Modified capsule with diameter enlarged (8)
(capsule +d)* = UPSCALED

11 Not uncomfortable about dons eating noisily in absence of Master (8)
a(about) within munching – m (master) = UNACHING

12 Tall tree that a man unashamedly hugs (6)
Hidden thaT A MAN Unashamedly = TAMANU

14 Bank exposed thus adjusted capital protection (6)
(an + thus)* = SUNHAT

15 Naval leaders conclude other ranks discharged duties (8, two words)
seal (conclude) + SEA LORDS

19 Fever accompanied by red spots or a blue bum (7)
(or a blue)* = RUBEOLA

20 One responsible for neat article about leaving show (7)
a(article) + register (show) – re (about) = AGISTER

21 Halls lozenges originally rejected by a pilot (4)
a trial (pilot) – l = ATRIA = *RIA

23 Oppose filling hollow bead (6)
opp (oppose) in pit (hollow) = POPPIT

24 Eastern European’s not around to issue money in Azerbaijan (4)
MANAT = MAN@

25 First off, feel shy about taking old Pope’s place (7, two words)
(eel shy)* around o(old) = HOLY SEE

27 Bury departed mafiosi near their houses (7)
Hidden mafiosI NEAR THeir = INEARTH

32 I repeatedly tease prince about muscles (8)
Rev. ii + rot (tease) + ras(prince) = SARTORII

33 I’m used rudely, perhaps (6)
(im used)* = MEDIUS

34 Forces duck to wear revolutionary trousers (6)
Rev. sport (wear) around o (duck) = TROOPS

35 Group’s caught inside vertical trap (8, two words)
taken(caught) in set (group) = STAKE NET

36 Sadly depleted number like to attempt comparison of horoscopes (8)
sy (sadly depleted) + n(number) + as (like) + try (attempt) = SYNASTRY

37 Dell singled out screens beginning to smoke (6)
(singled -s)* = DINGLE

Down
2 Bishop dodges extra responsibility (4)
bonus (extra) – b(bishop) = ONUS

3 Notice letters used to indicate pencil grade incorrect (8)
h and b (letters to indicate pencil grade) + ill (incorrect) = HANDBILL

4 Advanced bearing gold sheath (6)
OCHREA

5 Palm supplies pulp when bark’s removed (5)
kit (supplies) + pulp – bark (pp) = KITUL

6 Dreadful pun has editor confounded (8)
(pun has)* + ed (editor) = UNSHAPED

7 On Skye, mount swivelling guns protecting island (5)
Rev. gats (guns) around I (island) = STAIG

8 Minerals need shortened names (8)
call (need) – l + cites (names) = CALCITES

9 American right out of control (4)
am (american) + ok (right) = AMOK

10 Amendment includes these characters terminating individual lines (6, two words)
hidden amENDMENt = ENDMEN

11 Doorman ejecting heroin addict (4)
usher(dorman) – h (heroin) = USER

13 Right at the end, trick consumer (4)
ruse(trick) moving r to end = USER

16 Fathers and sons checking dance where uncles might be? (8)
pops (fathers) + s (son) around hop(dance) = POPSHOPS

17 Going fast, victor overcoming initial lack of zip (8)
rapidity (going fast) replacing start with v (victor) = VAPIDITY

18 Pioneering artist put out by assessment on Trustpilot? (8)
star rating (assessment on trust pilot) – ra (artist) = STARTING

22 Receiving cheers, McIlroy perhaps turning round (6)
rory(Mcilroy perhaps) around ta (cheers) = ROTARY

24 Anger young lady preferring diamonds to independence (6)
maiden (young lady) swapping d (diamonds) for I (independence) = MADDEN

25 Drove with head dropping exhausted (4)
shot(exhausted) moving head down = HOST

26 Organ saint hitherto neglected (5)
ear (organ) + st (saint) = EARST

28 Rambler certainly not very enthusiastic (5)
no mad (not very enthusiastic) = NOMAD

29 Inn vacated by the Spanish publican (4)
hostel(inn) – el (the Spanish) = HOST

30 Confused as to where Zeno gave his lectures (4)
(as to)* = STOA

31 Scheduled league clash between two rivals (4)
due (scheduled) + l (league) = DUEL

 

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