| LIEGE | Vassal or subject (5) |
| THEME | A topic or subject of a discussion, essay, exhibition, sermon etc; or, a pervading idea in art or literature (5) |
| PAPAL | Proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Ap |
| INCUR | Become liable or subject to (5) |
| OVOLI | Facetious term for a science or subject of study, especially one with a name ending in the word at issue (5) |
| EXCEL | To be exceptionally proficient in an activity or subject (5) |
| VENUS | #2, or subject of a famous Botticelli painting |
| FORUM | A meeting for open discussion or subjects of public interest (5) |
| INDEX | An alphabetical list of persons, places or subjects mentioned in the text of a printed work (5) |
| RULED | Like notepaper or subjects of a king |
| NOURISHER | A cool drink; an additional fee payable to counsel in a prolonged case; or, an activity or course for brushing-up one's existing knowledge or skills on a given task or subject (9) |
| VOCABULARY | The words of a language, sphere or subject; a dictionary, glossary or lexicon; or, a range of stylistic forms or techniques used in an art/craft (10) |
| STODGE | From "stuff to stretching point", a word for heavy filling food, such as baked or steamed pudding; a dull uninspired person or subject; or, a trudge or plod through mud (6) |
| SLAVE | Vassal (5) |
| YACHT | No vessel for a vassal! |
| GETTOGRIPS | To deal with a problem or subject (3,2,5) |
| HAZE | A word for thick fog, thin mist, lack of definition, obscurity of perception or a state of confusion that also means to bully, rag, vex with excess work or subject to horseplay (4) |
| UNSTABLE | Precarious or subject to change (8) |
| NATIONAL | Citizen or subject (8) |
| RAISED | Brought up, a child or subject (6) |
