Insinuating Crypt

[Otis]

Wow, this one was harder for me to solve than it ought to have been (in hindsight, heh). I'd given up, twice.

In accordance with boy holding one defamation (9)

Spoiler: Hint 1

Direct on right

Spoiler: Hint 2

Think Roman numeral, in the wordplay

Spoiler: Major Hint

"In accordance with" is a 2-word phrase

[imath]\;[/imath]

 

[Harry_the_cat]

Spoiler

ASPERSION = defamation
AS PER = in accordance with
SION = boy(SON) holding one (I)

 

[Otis]

Nobody may throw shade on that result.

(Nice to see you drop by.)

 

[khansaheb]

It is probably too dang cold down south for our feline friend - to prowl around.

 

[Harry_the_cat]

It is probably too dang cold down south for our feline friend - to prowl around.

Actually I have been prowling around France for the last six weeks on holidays! Nice to be back!