| LIEN | What a mortgage is, essentially |
| LOAN | A mortgage is isolated they say |
| ANAGRAMS | Clue to how "rate mortgage" is adjustable herein |
| SCRIMP | To save money, initial mortgage is included in share certificate (6) |
| OAR | Word that has swept and paddled its way through the centuries to describe what is essentially a rower's pulling power on the river; or, a pole with which to "stick in" or stir (3) |
| ROPE | What a lasso is, essentially |
| SHORTHANDTYPIST | What a steno is, essentially |
| EXPONENT | What a logarithm is, essentially |
| TIREDEXPRESSION | What a cliche is, essentially |
| BACKGROUNDMUSIC | What a film score is, essentially |
| LOCATOR | What a phone book is, essentially |
| BIGGAME | What "High-Stakes Poker" is, essentially* |
| SPOTREMOVER | What this puzzle's theme is, essentially |
| MATTEROFDEGREES | What this puzzle's theme is, essentially |
| SUGAR | What cotton candy is, essentially |
| BASSIST | Fish is essentially eaten by a player (7) |
| ASSIST | What an alley-oop is, essentially |
| RUIN | Unruly fringe is essentially a mess |
| RUMANDCOKE | Mixed drink that is essentially a Cuba libre |
| HAIKU | What strikers mount is essentially poetic |
