Spectator 2462

[johnpiper]

Eg co op two words own??s

[fiction-factory]

owners?
Are you sure of the letters?

[fiction-factory]

Sorry, I missed the two words bit

[johnpiper]

Maybe just o?n???

[Neveracrossword]

It's a thematic answer - a six-letter word becomes just four, with a significant two dropped. Own-??d

[fiction-factory]

This was a themed crossword so maybe the answers are undefined or there are special instructions. Is it co-op (co-operative) or coop (hen house)?

[Neveracrossword]

FF, I have the answer, as I did this last week, but I didn't know if you'd seen any of the posts which mention the theme?

[fiction-factory]

Thanks NAC.
OWn brand minus two letters?

[Neveracrossword]

Yes, sorry, FF - I gave the wrong letter count, as Boris was speaking on TV. Yes, BR is dropped from lots of entries.

[johnpiper]

I didnt realise you could take the br out of the second word?!
Thanks

[Neveracrossword]

Johnpiper, glad I could help.

[Captain2]

I do wish that, when asking for help with a themed crossword, the instructions are relayed to us.

'The seventeen entries with definition-only clues are to be treated according to a symmetrically disposed theme which has to be highlighted. Other clues are normal; all enumerations are of entry lengths.'