Cryptic Clues

For those of you who might need instructions for cryptic crossword clues, check out this page .

These have all been created by a variety of well-known constructors. There may be one or two that we might question, but they're still fun. Please explain all answers.

-1. A king of France with private South African settlement (4,4)
-2. Start the midday meal around one (6)
-3. Seizes nests of eggs (8)
-4. Bird sullied a count (6)
-5. Check piece of toast covered by roe? (5)
-6. Oral exercise to diminish (6)
-7. Each one eats some dessert (6)
-8. Number one tennis star's mum (9)
-9. Lifting top off, notice flower (8)
-10. Artist sporting leotards (3,5)

2. Start the midday meal around one (6)

launch - start

midday meal - lunch, one - a

lAunch (container)

4. toucan

a count "sullied"

Great starts!

6: lessen (lesson)

8. Noiseless (number one = no i / tennis star's = Seles's / mum = noiseless)

Bernie

Nicely done, boys!

1. A king of France with private South African settlement (4,4)

Cape Town (South African settlement) = Capet (king of France) + own (private)

Oui!

3. Clutches (Dub Def)

Right!

7. aPIEce

10.

Artist - Del Sarto (anag of leotards)
"sporting" - anag ind?

9. daffodil

lift off (doff), top (a lid)=daffodil (anag),flower

Well done, ladies!

For #9, "lift" indicates a reversal of lid+off+ad

5. Check piece of toast covered by roe? (5)
deter - check
deer - roe , piece of t(oast)
deTer - container

Sondi for knowing roe=deer

Sondi! I missed your excellent post! Well done!