Puzzletome Crossword Puzzles

February 2025 Monthly Crossword
Middle Row

The clues for six symmetrically opposed pairs lack definitions in their clues. They are presented together in alphabetical order and must be positioned appropriately in the grid with reference to the middle row.
Grid
Across
7,28aSmall child quaffing measure of absinthe (5)
Top brass supplementing iron foundry (5)
8,27aHole enveloping copper spike (9)
Triumphed with reverse turn, beset by alarm device termination (4,5)
10,26aRight bait distributed to catch bass (6)
Spooner to put on essence, say? (6)
11 Uncontrolled motor died - it could be anything? (8)
12 Path to mitigate containment of diseased yew (8)
13,20aKnight, for example, capturing a rook? (4)
Visiting Ullswater for a stretch (4)
15 Leaves place for a bit of expelliarmus in Harry Potter (7)
17 Level must get raked around grass (7)
20 See 13a
22 Honoured cardinal touring Eastern District (8)
25 Handout penny to first peasant in hamlet redistribution (8)
26 See 10a
27 See 8a
28 See 7a
Down
1 Consequence of arrest (smuggling gold) last Tuesday (9)
2 View of half the theme is to reside by ruin! (5-3)
3 Day with news reprinted lengthwise (7)
4 Evening out with GI taking long time (8)
5,21dBits of unburnt carbon in fuel (6)
Mountain about to ensnare Australian (6)
6 A lot of interest in American city Yankee (5)
9,23dCredit given to old woman (4)
Line backer's first match (4)
14 Left after amateurish manicure of digits (9)
16 Passes for sale prove difficult lacking middle men (8)
18 A credit ring strikes performers (8)
19 Disseminating information: teen angst dimension put on (7)
21 See 5d
23 See 9d
24 Sailor going up to deck (5)

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Whichever method you choose, your solution must be received by 11:59pm GMT on February 28 2025. The winner will be selected at random from all of the correct entries and be notified no later than March 5 2025.