Spectator 2404

[Nero1]

The unclued lights ( one of two words) share a feature, different in each case, and one is a past participle. One of the clued solutions shares this feature but is not as long and should be highlighted. One other solution is an acronym. I have completed crossword
1a D????I?N
2d ?NONDA?A
9d ?I?IC?E?
13a ?APALIST
27d V??ASOU?
31a RARA??IS
40a PEPERIN?
44a T?T????N
I’ve never done this crossword before and totally stumped can anyone help and explain the final answer, thanks in advance

[ProfessorMaisie]

The first for letters of 31ac and 40ac show the pattern which is repeated - so you know 2dn will begin ONON... 13ac PAPA and so on.

[ProfessorMaisie]

...sorry - 'first four letters...'

[ProfessorMaisie]

The final answer has the same pattern for the first 4 letters but it's a shorter word (I think it's a down answer towards the bottom of the grid but my memory is a bit hazy).

[Nero1]

Thank you very much, but what are the individual words so I can complete the whole crossword?

[ProfessorMaisie]

I'll give you what I can remember (and have a think about the rest) -
2d ONONDAGA is a proper noun(American Indian tribe).
13a PAPALIST
27d VAVASOUR
31a RARA AVIS
40a PEPERINO

[ProfessorMaisie]

...1a DODONIAN
9d might be the 'past participle' MIMICKED?

Can you give more letters for the last one?

[ProfessorMaisie]

...try TATARIAN.

[Nero1]

I guess 9d is mimicked
But 1a ?
And totally stumped on
T?T?R??N no word exists as far as I can see

[Nero1]

DODONIAN Hellenistic oracle(s)
ONONDAGA red indian tribe
MIMICKED past participle copied
PAPALIST fillower of the Pope
VAVASOUR french tenant of a Baron
RARA AVIS unusual thing
PEPERINO volcanic rock
TATARIAN connected to Tatars
I guess the past participle is MIMICKED
I guess the clued solution is RHODES
Not sure which is the acronym?
Any thoughts?

[Nero1]

Follower

[ProfessorMaisie]

1a DODONIAN (alternative spelling of Dodonaean - 'relating to Dodona in Epirus or its oracle' - Chambers).

44a TATARIAN - adjective 'of the Tatars... Turkic group of languages' - Chambers

[ProfessorMaisie]

ARARAT is the answer to be highlighted.

[ProfessorMaisie]

NASA is the acronym for the National Aeronautics & Space Administration

[Nero1]

Thanks again, it’s my first go at this crossword, it’s tough. I may not do it again, I thought the feature was Rhodes, but guess ARAFAT is connected to PEPERINO? I thought AGA as the acronym, but since I’ve never tried this Xword before I’ll accept your experience ( I guess you’re a regular) ATB

[ProfessorMaisie]

Nero1 it's ARARAT not 'arafat'.

I should have tried to explain the idea more clearly - there aren't any connections between the individual words, they just share a visual pattern (the first and third letters are the same, and the second and fourth are the same - RaRa... PePe... TaTa... and so on).

This was an untypical example of the spectator crossword - you might prefer the ones with linking themes, so maybe try next week's offering?

Yes, I've done quite a few of them over the years.