As Romans Do

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Explanation only + Answers + Grid entries
Solution grid
The modified clue answers were rendered in pig latin in the diagram.

Across

  • 1.
    PLOVER: P-LOVE-R → enter as OVERPLAY
  • 6.
    OSSA: O-S-SA
  • 10.
    LIAR: LIAR (rev.)
  • 11.
    ABYSS: A(BY)-SS
  • 13.
    TETE: TE-TE (rev.)
  • 14.
    TENTH: TENT-H
  • 15.
    LARBOARD: LAR(BOAR)D
  • 16.
    ADEPTS: ADE-PTS
  • 18.
    ELUDER: E-LUDER (e + anag.)
  • 21.
    SALAD: SA(LA)D
  • 25.
    ARIAN: ARIA-N
  • 29.
    ELATED: (b)-ELATED
  • 30.
    ASSISI: ASSIS(t)-I
  • 32.
    COMPILER: CO(MP)ILER
  • 33.
    TRUE: TRU(c)E → enter as OUTRE
  • 34.
    BLEW: BLEW (homophone
  • 35.
    LAD: (c)LAD → enter as ADLAI
  • 36.
    RIN: R(I)N → enter as INRE
  • 37.
    THEY: THE-Y
  • 38.
    WONDER: WON-DER (rev.) → enter as UNDERWAY

Down

  • 1.
    LOUT: L-OUT → enter as OUTLAY
  • 2.
    TRON: T-RON → enter as ENTREE
  • 3.
    PIVOTS: P(IV)OTS (stop rev.)
  • 4.
    LAMAS: L-A-MAS(s)
  • 5.
    ARMRESTS: AR(M)RESTS
  • 6.
    BEAU: BEAU (homophone) → enter as OBEY
  • 7.
    SYNODAL: SY(NO)DAL (rev.)
  • 8.
    TRASH: T-RASH → enter as ASHTRAY
  • 9.
    SEA DOG: SE(A D)OG (goes rev.) → enter as SEADOG
  • 12.
    STEED: S-TEED
  • 17.
    PLAIT: PLAIT (homophone
  • 19.
    ULNAS: ULNAS (anag. minus um)
  • 20.
    MANDOLIN: MAN-DOLIN(g)
  • 22.
    ICEBOAT: I-C(EB)OAT (be rev.)
  • 23.
    PRATTLE: PRATTLE (anag.)
  • 24.
    AXSEED: AXSEED (homophone)
  • 25.
    ALOUD: ALOUD (homophone)
  • 26.
    ASPIRE: ASPIRE (anag.)
  • 27.
    PILLOW: PILL-OW
  • 28.
    WEAR: W-EAR (w + anag.) → enter as AIRWAY
  • 30.
    AMEND: AM-END (pun)
  • 31.
    WRECKS: WRECKS (homophone) → enter as XRAY