Choice Words

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Letters passed over spell "The Road Not taken."

Across

  • 1.
    BASIS: BAS(I)S
  • 5.
    SPACEPORTS: S(PACE)PORTS
  • 10.
    AMULETS: A + MULE + TS
  • 11.
    CHORALE: CHORALE (HOMOPHONE)
  • 12.
    HUMORED: HU(MORE)D
  • 13.
    RIPSAW: RIPSAW (hidden inside "tire")
  • 14.
    PORRINGER: POR + RINGER
  • 16.
    MOROCCAN: MORO(CC + A)N
  • 17.
    DELETED: DE(LET)ED
  • 19.
    TUSCARORA: TUSCAROR + A (anag. + "a")
  • 22.
    SPILLS: S(PILL)S
  • 25.
    FIREBUG: FIRE(B)UG (anag. + "B")
  • 27.
    BLIMP: BLI(M)P
  • 29.
    SONNET: SON(NE)T
  • 31.
    ADORATION: A + DO + RATION
  • 32.
    MINORED: MIN(ORE)D
  • 33.
    SCAT: SCAT (double def.)
  • 34.
    SURREAL: SURREAL (anag.)
  • 35.
    THRUSTS: T(H)RUSTS
  • 36.
    SASSY: SA(S + S)Y

Down

  • 1.
    BAHAMAS: BA + H(A + M)AS
  • 2.
    AMOROUS: AMOROUS (anag.)
  • 3.
    SUMACS: SUMAC + S (rev.)
  • 4.
    SEMINAL: SE(MIN)AL
  • 5.
    STANDS: STAN(D)'S
  • 6.
    ARIEL: ARIE + L ("ira" rev.)
  • 7.
    EAST: (f)EAST
  • 8.
    PLATEAU: P(L)ATE + AU
  • 9.
    SEWED: SE(W)ED
  • 14.
    PORTABLES: PORTABLES (anag.)
  • 15.
    RESULT: RES(U + L)T
  • 18.
    SPINACH: SPIN + A + CH
  • 20.
    UPBEARS: UPBEARS (anag.)
  • 21.
    REPORTEDLY: REPORTEDL + Y (anag. + "y")
  • 23.
    IGNORAMUS: IG + NOR + A + MUS (rev.)
  • 24.
    HICKORIES: HICK + O + RIES ("rise" anag.)
  • 25.
    FORECAST: FORE(CA)ST
  • 26.
    BOOKS: BOO(KS)
  • 28.
    STAR: S-TAR
  • 30.
    SENORAS: SE(NOR)AS