| ESSAY | Word originally meaning trial, test or attempt; or, later due to the works of Michel de Montaigne, an analytical literary composition (5) |
| BETA | Software trial, - test |
| LIMN | From "cast light on", word originally meaning "illuminate a manuscript with ornamental letters", later "draw or paint in watercolours", "suffuse or highlight" or "describe in painting or words" (4) |
| BERTH | Word originally meaning "sea room" or space to manoeuvre, later a ship's allotted spot at a wharf; or, a sailor's bunk (5) |
| GENIUS | Word originally meaning "divinity, guardian spirit" or "talent, wit", later a person of consummate intellect or of exceptional creative power (6) |
| QUOTE | Word originally meaning to mark a book with chapter numbers or references, later to cite a person/text; or, enclose within inverted commas (5) |
| LURID | From the Latin for "a wan or yellow colour", word originally meaning pale and dismal, but now unpleasantly bright in colour, garish, loud or vivid (5) |
| SLIPSHOD | Word originally meaning 'wearing loose shoes', now meaning careless or slapdash (8) |
| TREAT | Word originally meaning "negotiate" and "discuss a subject", later a source of gratification such as a pleasure excursion, something choice to eat or entertainment for a guest (5) |
| ROAST | Word originally meaning to cook before an open fire, later to cook (meat or vegetables) in an oven (5) |
| HANDSOME | Word originally meaning easy to use, later good-looking or striking (8) |
| RECORD | From the Latin for "heart", a word originally meaning "call to mind, learn by heart", later any chronicle, log, memorandum or register (6) |
| STOP | Word originally meaning "to plug a hole", now a cessation or halt (4) |
| HOGWASH | Word originally meaning watery slop fed to animals, but came to mean ridiculous or nonsensical (7) |
| PIED | Word originally meaning black and white, now any two colours (4) |
| CREDIT | Originally meaning "belief", a word for the time given for payment for something sold on trust; or, acknowledgement or praise (6) |
| AREA | Originally meaning "space allocated for a specific purpose", a word for the extent/measurement of a surface or piece of land; a field of study; or, a geographical region (4) |
| COIN | Originally meaning "cornerstone" or "wedge", word for any one of various minted numismatic discs, such as a bob, copper, crown, farthing, shilling, sixpence or sovereign (4) |
| ENDEAVOUR | Earnest undertaking or attempt (9) |
| REENTRY | When coming back finally, Moon vehicle manoeuvre or attempt? (7) |
