No 13854, Tuesday 02 May 2023, Karaoke

Solution to 8D 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   Take arabica, arnica potions heartily to begin with (2,6) AB INITIO {arABIca+arNIca+poTIOns}

6   Finally, you must breathe air thru mother's womb (6) UTERUS Tail Acrostic

9   Can iterating part cover back wall of the eyeball? (6) RETINA [T<=]

10 Mummy and daddy take drug and son cuddles date (4,4) DEAD BODY {D{E}AD}{BO{D}Y}

11 Unusually India hunts for native language (10) HINDUSTANI*

12 Warning - No entry for Ladies! (4) OMEN {Only MEN} (Addendum - wOMEN See comments)

13 Figure out home bird leaving base for ocean (8) RHOMBOID {HOM(-e+o)O+BIRD}*

15 Most inhuman Conservative leaves first (6) OLDEST cOLDEST

16 Special entrance fee allows right for leisurely walk (6) STROLL {S}{T{R}OLL}

18 Upset barber will do this (8) DISTRESS DIS-TRESS

20 Egyptian goddess' top altered or unaltered? (2,2) AS IS (-i+a)ASIS 

21 Vigilant advice to a ballet dancer maybe (2,4,4) ON YOUR TOES [DD]

23 Kid is stuck inside handrail (8) BANISTER {BAN{IS}TER}

24 Abrupt aimless shot in messages (6) EMAILS AIMLESs*

25 Wasteland is extremely desolate and sterile, right? (6) DESERT {De...tE}{St...lE}{RT} (Addendum - De...tE}{St...lE}{RighT} - See comments)

26 Resignation of Bond [New] in progress (8) PATIENCE {PA{TIE}{N}CE}

DOWN

2   Ugly mark from terrible mishap (7) BLEMISH [T]

3   Diana maybe a nymph (5) NAIAD*

4   Inedible fungi to get promotions from agency (9) TOADSTOOL {TO}{ADS}{TOOL}

5   Card game for spinster? (3,4) OLD MAID [DD]

6   System of medicine in complete agreement to kill small mouse (5) UNANI UNANImous

7   Stitch by English doctor on passenger having heart block (9) EMBROIDER {E}{MB}{R{blOck}IDER}

8   Low-cut garment, top off, take off (7) U?D?E?S (Addendum - UNDRESS sUNDRESS - See comments)

14 Rubbish illicit liquor (9) MOONSHINE [DD]

15 Obstetrician's treatment on short term primarily and most doubtful (9) OBSCUREST {OB'S}{CURE}{Sh..t}{Term}

17 One who gives evidence in trial gets worried (7) TESTATE {TEST}{ATE}

18 Excursion after nightfall! (3,4) DAY TRIP {DAY}{TRIP}

19 Achilles lost interest in rebellion to defeat decisively (7) SHELLAC ACHiLLES*

21 Frenzied technocrat leaves crumbling ranch with the group (5) OCTET TEchnOCraT*

22 Kid from the bad seed ignored occasionally (5) TEASE {ThE+bAd+SeEd}

Reference List

Drug = E, Date = D, Base = E, Conservative = C, Special = S, Right = R, Ocean = O, New = N, Promotions = ADS, English = E, Doctor = MB, Obstetrician = OB, Interest = I