Solution to 2D 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
1 Character in cool gamble captures spade queen legitimately (4,3,6) FAIR AND SQUARE {F{AIR}AN}{D{S}{QU}ARE}
8 Criticise about suppressing current civil rights organisation in US (5) NAACP {PAN<=} over {AC}
9 Arrange restorative containing dash of gin (9) CONFIGURE {C{OF+GIN}*URE}
11 Starts to cut rope using scissors in a pattern of intersecting lines (10) CRISSCROSS {Cut}{Rope}{SCISSORS*}
12 Wound primarily covered for bit of time gets protective crust (4) SCAB S(-t+c)CAB
14 Lieutenant protected by fine shield (7) SHELTER {SHE{LT}ER}
16 One who tries to speak, interrupting seer stupidly (7) ESSAYER {ES{SAY}ER*}
17 Stopgap director leaves impression by reversing mess (7) INTERIM {dINT}{MIRE<=}
19 Turned round to meet fine Greek character in lustrous silk fabric (7) TAFFETA {FAT<=}{F}{ETA}
21 Europeans perhaps avoid noisy bars (4) INNS fINNS
22 Helps to restrain Republican fool by beginning to telecast hard facts (5,5) BRASS TACKS {B{R}{ASS}{Te...t}ACKS}
25 Mask enables millions perhaps to tackle onset of Covid-19 (9) SEMBLANCE {ENABLES+M}* over {Co...9}
26 Separated and cut crust of pudding easily (5) UNDID pUDDINg
27 What artist adding a slightly different colour will do to outshine? (3,2,3,5) PUT IN THE SHADE [DD]
DOWN
2 Greed is a sin involving endless deceit (7) A?A?I?E (Addendum - AVARICE {A}{V{ARt}ICE} - See comments)
3 Espy trio slyly stealing gold in vault (10) REPOSITORY {ESPY+TRIO}* over {OR}
4 More refined diamonds acquired by neighbour on vacation (5) NICER {ICE} in {Ne...uR}
5 Growing old, mixing up sentences (9) SENESCENT*
6 Piece of meat in upma? Revolting (4) UNIT [T]
7 Steamy union in farm yard (7) RAUNCHY {RA{U}NCH}{Y}
8 Wants tapes after scene is shot (11) NECESSITIES {SCENE+IS}*{TIES}
10 Shamefaced English maiden, restrained after consuming dope (11) EMBARRASSED {E}{M}{BARR{ASS}ED}
13 What romantic lover might appreciate in a person who lends money easily (1,4,5) A SOFT TOUCH [DD]
15 Famous painter’s class in fresh term (9) REMBRANDT {REM{BRAND}T*}
18 Ornithologist in a mountain provides shelter for a bird (7) TINAMOU [T]
23 One overwhelmed by split runs out in strain (5) SIEVE {S{1}EVEr}
Reference List
Spade = S, Queen = QU, Director = D, Fine = F, Noisy = F, Republican = R, Millions = M, Gold = OR, Diamonds = ICE, Union = U, Yard = Y, English = E, Maiden = M, Run = R
2d-AVARICE=Greed: A sin=> A VICE; Containing endless deceit=> AR(T)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCorrection
Delete2D AVARICE - greed
{a}{v{ar}ice}
sin = vice
endless deceit = art - t
Thanks to Doc for the SOFT TOUCH after the INTERIM (interregnum) of Crisscross(es), who CONFIGURED a SEMBLANCE of BRASSTACKS and PUT (it) IN THE SHADR..
ReplyDeleteHappy to see Prasad filling in the gaps!
ReplyDelete+1
Delete8A- Since it's an acronym should it not be 1,1...in stead of 5?
ReplyDeleteGoogle says it's NAACP without dots. So 5 only?
DeleteIt is (1,1,1,1,1) in the file I sent to TH, so it has been changed to (5).
DeleteThought there might be some problem. Hence asked. Thank you.
DeleteDid not get the new bird- it passed through sieve!
ReplyDeleteAs usual an interesting and engaging CW. Thank you Doc.
Col.
ReplyDelete4D solution word to be highlighted.
Done, thank you
Delete23Dn is my CoD
ReplyDelete24d - is my CoD.....The word Tale spontaneously Dr RKE in front of my Eyes. Enjoined the Tale Days
ReplyDeleteCould someone explain 1a please, and why is queen "qu" instead of "q"
ReplyDeleteQueen among many of her regal avatars in crosswordland is Q, Qu, ER..you have to pick as per the enu and wp
DeleteThank you Vasant. You're a Rex
DeleteNice grid doc. Got all.
ReplyDeleteMy fav - REMBRANDT, SIEVE, A SOFT TOUCH.