No 13773, Friday 27 Jan 2023, Hypatia

Solution to 5D 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   Sister accepting a church's suggestion (6) NUANCE {NU{A}N}{CE}

4   Spice shelf mostly returned to daughter by a mother (8) CARDAMOM {RACk<=}{D}{A}{MOM}

9   Reportedly country provides oil (6) GREASE (~greece)

10 One lamp lit in study to find fault (8) COMPLAIN {CO{1+LAMP}*N}

12 Economic imbalance of area housing elderly in retirement (5,3) TRADE GAP {P{AGED}ART}<=

13 He shoots needles from behind with hesitation (6) SNIPER {PINS<=}{ER}

15 They're exchanged by participants in union? (7,5) WEDDING BANDS [CD]

18 Concerned with feasting - not grand or massive (12) ASTRONOMICAL gASTRONOMICAL

21 European entering international transaction for old specialist (6) EXPERT EXP(-o+e)ERT

22 Turn very appealing to block the French kiss (8) OSCULATE {SO<=}{CU{LA}TE}

24 Discuss in college about poetry (8) CONVERSE {C}{ON}{VERSE}

25 Satisfied to consume rough food grain (6) MILLET {M{ILL}ET}

26 Doctor, mayor and general returning to fish (5,3) MORAY EEL {MAYOR*}{LEE<=}

27 Note to seize free capital of Yemen 24 hours before the weekend (6) FRIDAY {F{RID}A}{Ye..n}

DOWN

1   Work long with one who turns in late? (5,3) NIGHT OWL {LONG+WITH}*

2   Structure deal with assistant in city (8) ADELAIDE {DEAL*}{AIDE}

3   Guys err in process of reconstruction (8,7) COSMETIC SURGERY {GUYS+ERR}* [RA]

5   Crazy maiden hiding in America's fine (4) A?O? (Addendum - AMOK {M} in {A}{OK} - See comments)

6   Nehru admired Apu's versatile author (6,2,7) DAPHNE DU MAURIER*

7   French footballer's chart contains British exercise (6) MBAPPE {M{B}AP}{PE}

8   Say Om, engraved by craftsman traditionally (6) MANTRA [T]

11 What's naturally sweet like Mick of the Rolling stones? (7) JAGGERY [DD]

14 Main judge is fighting religious order (7) JAINISM {MAIN+J+IS}*

16 Scribbled about women rocking cradles (8) SCRAWLED {SCRA{W}LED*}

17 Infection at hospital ward luckily cleared out smoothly (8) FLUENTLY {FLU}{ENT}{Lu...lY}

19 View the fab, futuristic mega slim terminals in electronic device (6) WEBCAM Tail Acrostic

20 Some stop energetic Rohit Sharma, for one (6) OPENER [T]

23 Man, perhaps lives life on vacation (4) ISLE {IS}{LifE}

Reference List

Church = CE, Daughter = D, Study = CON, Grand = G, European = E, Old = O, The in French = LA, College = C, Note = FA, With = W, British = B, Exercise = PE, Maiden = M, America = A, Judge = J, Women = W, Hospital ward = ENT