| SPONSORS | Sticks up for the notion of financiers being godparents (8) |
| BANC | Sound of a French financier being hit on the head? |
| LOVELACE | Married name of the 19th-century mathematician and computer pioneer Augusta Ada Byron who, in her writings about Charles Babbage's analytical engine, pondered the notion of AI-generated music (8) |
| WHIMWHAM | A light and fanciful old reduplication, possibly from the notion of "wandering eyes", for a curious trifle, odd device, queer trinket, ridiculous notion or silly fleeting thought (4-4) |
| CHAMPION | Stick up for the man I love keeping married name (8) |
| RENOUNCE | What prospective godparents do to the works of Satan? (8) |
| SANGUINE | From "blood", a word for cheerful, from the notion that having lots of blood fostered a rosy or pink mood (8) |
| BULLION | Word, from "mint" and "simmer", through the notion of "melting", for precious metals in the form of ingots before coining; gold or silver generally; or, a braid or fringe of twisted argentine or golde |
| STANDSBY | Sticks up for bands playing in filthy place (6,2) |
| HARTFORD | State capital of Connecticut, birthplace of financier J. P. Morgan and actress Katharine Hepburn (8) |
| NOONTIDE | Odd notion of the French at about midday (8) |
| FLAIR | Word, from "smell sweet" or "sense of smell", in allusion to the notion of one's ability to detect scent and react accordingly, for instinctive aptitude (5) |
| THINK | Entertain the notion of starting for all sides today (5) |
| GODCHILD | An infant who is sponsored by an adult (the godparent) at baptism. |
| SNUFFY | Word, possibly from the notion of extinguishing a candle, meaning annoyed, peevish or "put out" (6) |
| SMUG | Sticks up for the complacent (4) |
| LEEMALONE | Guy who sticks up for the little guy? |
| PROMOTER | Godparent |
| TABLES | Stick up for the French school used by the mathematicians (6) |
| IDEALIST | He may not be practical in laying the notion on the table (8) |
