| TBIRD | Ford spanning 50 years, or a hint to the four intersecting pairs of |
| SENIORCITIZEN | One advanced in years, or a hint to the initials and life stage of 19-, 24- and 42-Across |
| QUARTER | Fourth part of a coat of arms, hour, lunar month, pound of weight, sports match, US dollar or year; or, a district having some distinguishing character or inhabited by a particular class (7) |
| SEASON | One of the four natural divisions of a year; or, a time thereof when a particular fruit, vegetable, nut etc is most fresh, plentiful or ripe (6) |
| SPRING | Period from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice in the astronomical year; or, a natural outflow of water from the ground (6) |
| RUNUP | A period preceding a notable event such as Christmas or New Year; or, a substantial hike in the value or level of something (3-2) |
| BABY | Infant prior to toddling years; or, a pet project of personal concern (4) |
| LUSTRUM | Ancient Roman period of five years; or, a novel by Robert Harris (7) |
| EVERGREEN | The name of a tree that bears foliage all year, or a UK no 1 song for Will Young (9) |
| TRIWEEKLY | Roughly seventeen times a year . . . or a hundred and fifty-six times a year |
| CHANGEDONESMIND | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| COMPASS | Provider of directions ... or a hint to the four "+" shapes in this puzzle's grid |
| SATURDAY | Unhappy about routine picked up over a year, or a lot less |
| MAY | In one term, a year, or a month (3) |
| HAMMEDITUP | Went all out on stage ... or a hint to the four other longest puzzle answers |
| WATER | With the answer below, dilute ... and a hint to the four longest answers |
| POSTHASTE | With immediacy, or a hint to the four other longest puzzle answers |
| FIRSTTHINGSFIRST | "Start at the beginning," and a hint to the four other longest Across answers |
| MIDTERM | Like the upcoming elections, and a hint to the four longest Across answers |
| LUSTRE | A period of five years; or, brilliance, gloss or sheen, hence something refulgent, such as shiny dress fabric, metallic iridescent glaze, a chandelier or one of its crystal/glass drops (6) |
