No 13118, Monday 14 Dec 2020, Bruno

Solution to 4D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

5   Mollusc’s not a water pig (6) QUAHOG {aQUA}{HOG}

7   After battle, got bored, stitching clothes (8) WARDROBE {WAR}{BORED*}

9   Nose pierced by third ring and nose without ring — foolishness (8) NONSENSE {NO{riNg}SE}{NoSE}

10 Ill-tempered taxi driver parked around rear end (6) CRABBY {C{reaR}ABBY}

11 Minds might waver as boring people pray at this vigil (8,4) MIDNIGHT MASS {MINDS+MIGHT}* over {AS}

13 Fight at public transportation place’s counter (4-2) BUST-UP {BUS}{PUT<=}

15 Strip of meat’s good in France (6) RIBBON {RIB}{BON}

18 Shiv came — rest dispersed on day of 11 Across? (9,3) CHRISTMAS EVE*

21 Boasts about daughter to large groups of people (6) CROWDS {CROW{D}S}

22 Writer’s union leading motion to support area of uncertainty (8) PENUMBRA {PEN}{U}{Mo...n}{BRA}

23 Fourth mate replaced by first officer — alleged to be different (8) ASSORTED ASS{-e+o)ORTED

24 Boss important to menial worker (6) DONKEY {DON}{KEY}

DOWN

1   Revolutionary feat to have United Nations turning brown (8) CHESTNUT {CHE}{ST(UN<=)T}

2   Starts to eat gravy — bangs gong for drink (6) EGGNOG {Eat}{Gr..y}{GONG*}

3   Am a rich bum earning right to comment from here? (8) ARMCHAIR {AM+A+RICH}* over {R} &lit

4   Delights when ecstasy and amphetamines mainly overrun America’s charities (6) ?R?A?S (Addendum - TREATS TR(-US+Ec...y+Am...s)EATS - See comments)

6   Overly fond of wife, you finally get a hug and a kiss with right promises (8) UXORIOUS {yoU}{XO}{R}{IOUS} 

7   William — first king to have Henry’s crown (6) WREATH {Wi...m}{R}{EAT}{H} 

8   Half of ABBA close to having child (4) BABY {abBA}{BY}

12 Counter talk (8) CONVERSE [DD]

14 Something harmful can emerge from feldspar — as it evaporates (8) PARASITE [T]

16 Part of house for humble people — attic, essentially? (8) BASEMENT {BASE}{MEN}{atTic}

17 Animal on opioids loses ego — gets high (6) ISOPOD OPiOIDS*

18 Cool web copy regularly having picture of American West? (6) COWBOY {CoOl+WeB+cOpY}

19 Poem from man on love — depressingly lacking content (6) MONODY {M}{ON}{0}{De...lY}

20 Don’t start to hurt small parts of body (4) ARMS {hARM}{S}

Reference List

Good in French = BON, Daughter = D, Union = U, Support = BRA, Right = R, Hug = O, Kiss = X, King = R, Henry = H, Ego = I, Man = M, Small = S