verba decussatim occulta (cryptic crosswords)

[phil]

For some years now I've been addicted to cryptic crosswords. I've decided to have a go at compiling them. Here's my first one. The clues are in English, but the answers are Latin words. Let me know how you get on! If you like them I'll post more. Or, if you prefer, I could do some with normal clues, though they're less fun.

The grid should be converted to fixed font, (about 10 pica seems OK) and printed out to make the columns line up. If anyone has a better way for me to distribute the grid, e.g. a Word doc, let me know.

I'll try to get to a computer on Friday to answer any questions.

+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|1 | |2 | |3 | |4 | |XXXX|XXXX|5 |XXXX|6 |
| | | | | | | | |XXXX|XXXX| |XXXX| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|7 | | | | |
| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| | | | | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|8 | | | | | | | | |XXXX| |XXXX| |
| | | | | | | | | |XXXX| |XXXX| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|9 | | |
| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| | | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|10 | | | |XXXX|11 | | | | | |XXXX| |
| | | | |XXXX| | | | | | |XXXX| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|XXXX|XXXX| |XXXX|12 |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|XXXX|XXXX| |
|XXXX|XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|XXXX|XXXX| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|13 | | | | | |XXXX|14 | | |15 | | |
| | | | | | |XXXX| | | | | | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |XXXX|XXXX|XXXX| |XXXX|16 |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|XXXX|
| |XXXX|XXXX|XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|XXXX|
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |XXXX|17 | | | | | |XXXX|18 | | |19 |
| |XXXX| | | | | | |XXXX| | | | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|20 | | |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX|21 |XXXX| |XXXX| |
| | | |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |XXXX| |XXXX|22 | | | | | | | | |
| |XXXX| |XXXX| | | | | | | | | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|23 | | | | |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |
| | | | | |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |XXXX| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |XXXX| |XXXX|XXXX|24 | | | | | | | |
| |XXXX| |XXXX|XXXX| | | | | | | | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+

Across
1 Current sanctimonious Queen Mother exercising power (8)
7 Sane king tossed bird (5)
8 Feeble lad using university cook (9)
9 The countryside in Prussia (3)
10 Curs chewed leg (3)
11 Stinger from the east of Frankfurt and Africa (6)
13 Host arranges shoes around piano (6)
14 Spies conceal order to stop making poison (6)
17 Blooms opening in November usually lose aroma early (6)
18 Properly irate, losing article in struggle (4)
20 Starting ignition, any minute now (3)
22 To lie in wait for a princess in a raisin salad! (9)
23 Milk producers in tube rancid (5)
24 Lee rope tangled round front of rudder starting to hum (8)

Down
1 Sick one about there (5)
2 Fat bird takes iodine to replace energy, finally using other end of spoon (7)
3 Sure to upset the accused (4)
4 To swell under a boil (6)
5 One star makes many (5)
6 In vain and in frustration (7)
7 I see jelly and some onion (7)
12 Roman palace hides early Fabian underground refuges (7)
13 Dress worn by nuns, you and me (7)
15 American gallery accepts central exhibit in the usual way (7)
16 Shaken, but safe without Bible, fortunately (6)
17 Hillary, say, loses ton and a half in shower (5)
19 Earnestly rejecting old lover, one on the outskirts of Newcastle (5)
21 Therefore, old judge gets his wings clipped (4)