Comhnasc Crossword 40

[Fitzys]

7a: Absolutely not the thing to do playing bridge. 6 letters. ?????e

9a: One's essential being. 4 letters. ????

1d: Used to be. 4 letters. ???!

3d: Deny it all you like but it is plainly so : 4/9 letters. ????/ ?e?i?t?o?  
I put nose reduction for that !!  These clues all cut across one another to fill one corner of the grid. 

[scorpiojo]

9 Esse

[scorpiojo]

1 Were?

[scorpiojo]

In your letters for 3d, is the i in the correct place?

[Fitzys]

I have esse and were but they clash with nose reduction and the playing bridge clue. Thanks very much. 

[scorpiojo]

If Esse and were are correct, what letters would you have for the other 2 clues?

[Fitzys]

Sorry' that should read 2d. And yes the I should be a u. Sorry again. 

[Fitzys]

If esse is correct 1 d will end in s. Twas ??  2d would end in e

[scorpiojo]

Twas is good

[Fitzys]

The nose reduction is the stumbling block for me. Also I have revoke for bridge playing clue. Maybe it should be renege?? But that wouldn't match twas. 
I'm demented!! 

[scorpiojo]

It could be either

[scorpiojo]

..revoke or renege

[scorpiojo]

Does the answer to 1d give the first letters of 7a and 9a?

[scorpiojo]

...and what letters does the answer to 3d give in 7a and 9a?

[elliemay1]

Only thing that comes to mind is: 'it's as clear as the nose on your face' but that doesn't explain 'reduction'

[elliemay1]

^ '...as plain as the ...'!

[Calibax]

7a Go under? I know it doesn't match the letter count.

[Fitzys]

To all my helpers ,

the answer to

1d  would give the SECOND letter to 7a and 9a. 
The nose reduction.... one might deny that one had a nose reduction !!