No 13790, Thursday 16 Feb 2023, Crescent

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.

Is Dr X seen in the grid for some reason :-)

ACROSS

7   An opening of air transport shrinks what was once a big distance in India (6) YOJANA {AN}{Air}{JOY}<=

8   Steep price put on spice (8) MACERATE {RATE}<=>{MACE}

9   Jet from home to Kentucky (4) INKY {IN}{KY}

10 A parts recall together with phone narrowing band of growth for Apple? (6,4) ANNUAL RING {ANNU{A}L}{RING}

11 Cast shout very loudly smothering tenor's remarkable performance (3,5) HOT STUFF {SHOUT}*{FF} over {T}

12 Cold concerning swimmers? (6) OFFISH {OF}{FISH}

14 Dull day other than in recess (4) DRAB {D}{BAR<=}

15 Nuts bringing in hard cash for Thailand (5) BAHTS {BA{H}TS}

16 About time to shut up (4) CAGE {C}{AGE}

18 Area with high risk inhibits American soldier in East Africa (6) ASKARI {A}{RISK*} over {A}

20 Draw straws for one slot? (4,4) CAST LOTS {SLOT}* [RA] Semi&lit

22 Norm to ultimately dig in here - in a mess? (6,4) DINING ROOM {NORM+tO+DIG+IN}* Semi&lit

24 Respectable groom (4) TIDY [DD]

25 Leave half-full, not even bagging what might be left (8) FURLOUGH }FUll}{R{L}OUGH}

26 Split brown stems of a palm (6) RATTAN {RAT}{TAN}

DOWN

1   Drain in France for shower (8) DOWNPOUR {DOWN}{POUR}

2   Jar has a bay set providing an upper chamber (5,5) RAJYA SABHA*

3   Musical piece from Texan, a duet (6) XANADU [T]

4   Plane figures in game for children inspired by ordinary gulls (8) ?C?A?O?S (Addendum - OCTAGONS {O}{C{TAG}ONS} - See comments))

5   One very unusual stunted tree (4) ARAR {A}{RARe}

6   Survives in twigs under leaves (6) STANDS [DD?] (Addendum - underSTANDS - See comments)

8   Say Reverend Spooner's old lady's family? (3,2,3,5) MAN OF THE CLOTH (~clan of the moth to man of the cloth)

13 Version of Italic that's spread lot further (10) FACILITATE {FA{ITALIC*}TE}

15 Highlight of round in match (5,3) BRING OUT {B{RING}OUT}

17 Inducing disheartened, sedate fans to become overambitious (3,5) GET IDEAS {In...nG+SEDATE}*

19 Start to see eye to eye, possibly over an error (4-2) SLIP-UP {See}{PUPIL<=}

21 Dismal doctor irritated nurses (6) SOMBRE {SO{MB}RE}

23 Crazy wanting son so badly (4) ILLY sILLY

Reference List

Home = IN, Very loudly = FF, Tenor = T, Day = D, Hard = H, About = C, Area = A, American = A, Left = L, For in French = POUR, Ordinary = O, Gulls = CONS, Son = S