crossword help?

Question

1) bassi-: deep voiced singers in comic opera( 5 letters)
b?f?i
2) small pellets for shooting pheasant ,etc (8letters)
?h???h??
3) leave of absence from college ( 5 letter)
e?e?t
4) philosopher like jean paul sartre (14 letters)
E?I?T?n?i???s?

Answer 1

1. buffo - a singer who specializes in comic characters is known as a basso buffo
2. shrapnel
3. exeat
4. existentialist

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Answer 2

Serendipity is close - all but one. No 2. is 'birdshot' Your first 'h' must be incorrect. Shrapnel would obliterate a bird.