Solution to 4A 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 Recruit scoundrel with stranger (5) CADET {CAD}{ET}
4 Old-timer's party at Japanese capital? (5) ?O?E? (Addendum - DOYEN {DO}{YEN} - See comments)
11 Country assembling nuke outside borders of Russia and central China (7) UKRAINE {UK{Ru..iA}{chIna}NE*}
13 Hint of trait in genes (5) TINGE [T]
14 Scientist in confusion about object with velocity (9) MENDELEEV {M{END}ELEE}{V}
15 Ordinary man, made blunders saving home address on the net (6,4) DOMAIN NAME {O+MAN+MADE}* over {IN}
17 Rubbing Sita's palms (4) ITAS*
21 Gangster and criminal gladly drink, working 24 hours (3,3,4) ALL DAY LONG {AL}{LDAYL{ON}G*}
25 "Bug journalists", said Spooner dear (9) PRICELESS (~ lice press to priceless)
27 Cleric in Britain plugging American machine (5) ABBOT {A}{B{B}OT}
28 A thespian's debut is in that place! (7) THEATRE {THE{A}{Th...n}RE} &lit
31 English poet covers facial hair (5) BEARD {B{E}ARD}
DOWN
2 Perhaps SMS friend in the morning (7) ACRONYM {A{CRONY}M}
3 Electronic sink repels mice producing plague, say (8) EPIDEMIC {E}{DIP<=}{MICE*}
5 Broadcast request to follow Big bird (6) OSPREY {(~pray}PREY}<=>{OS}
7 Fitted diamonds below luxurious hotel room (6) SUITED {D}<=>{SUITE}
8 Last minaret to be built near lake (8) TERMINAL {MINARET*}{L}
9 Oddly play and succeed without independent stake (4) PAWN {PlAy}{WiN}
10 Incomplete joke about the first lady's perfect butler (6) JEEVES {JE{EVE}St}
16 Ascertained mudras echo dancing with ecstasy (4,4) MADE SURE {MUDRAS+E}*{E}
19 Fruit picked up from above, for instance (6) SAPOTA {ATOP}{AS}<=
22 Spacecraft runs with piece checked by men (7) ORBITER {O{R}{BITE}R}
23 Crocs from mountain swamped by methane, for one (6) GATORS {GA{TOR}S}
26 Remove lid from drainage vessel (4) EWER sEWER
Reference List
Stranger = ET, Party = DO, Velocity = V, Ordinary = O, Home = IN, Gangster = AL, Britain = B, American = A, Machine = BOT, Boy = B, Right = R, English = E, Electronic = E, Big = OS, Diamonds = D, Lake = L, Independent = I, Echo = E, Ecstasy = E, Active = A, Runs = R, Men = OR
4A DOYEN
ReplyDeleteDefinition: Old timer
Party: Do
Japanese capital: Yen (capital referring to money)
4A. Party = Do, Japanese capital = yen. So old timer = Doyen
ReplyDeleteRelatively easy one. Got the spooner as well. Couldn't get the anno for few. Overall very nice grid and enjoyed solving it. Liked 4a.
ReplyDelete10A. I thought = incomplete joke to be j(ok)e. First lady's= eves.
ReplyDeleteIncomplete will not lead to removal of ends, also 'about' will have no role
DeleteJapanese capital was clever.
ReplyDeletegator is an accepted abbreviation of alligator?
Yes. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/gator
DeleteThank you Boss.
DeleteDoes anyone remember defense vs defence clue by xChequer!
DeleteThose were the golden days.
Nice to meet the perfect "Gentleman's gentleman"!
ReplyDeleteLiked acronym too- took a long time.
ReplyDeleteToday Hypatia is rather benign. 😁
ReplyDeleteListener= ear? .i couldn't comprehend. Ear= listen.. listener is more a noun..what says the Pundits here?
ReplyDeleteWhere is the doubt? Listener and ear are both nouns. Ear IS the listener.
DeleteThanks sir
Deleteat is just a connector. Listener/shelter=Ear/Nest
ReplyDelete