No 13993, Thursday 12 Oct 2023, Crescent

Solution to 14A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Abscond in vehicle sticking permit (6) LEVANT {LE{VAN}T}

8   Roam around with partner in unprincipled fashion (8) AMORALLY {ROAM*}{ALLY}

9   Drags in withdrawing bookworm (4) TOWS<=

10 A type ever heading for investigative exercises? (7,3) PRIVATE EYE {A+TYPE+EVER+In...e}* &lit

11 People showing positive attitude fading away (8) MANCANDO {MAN}{CAN DO}

12 Ingest pectin in some form (6) INCEPT*

14 Killer whale turning over sinking vessel (4) ?R?A (Addendum - ORCA  ACROss<= - See comments)

15 Iconic symbol to a flying squad (5) TOTEM {TO}{TEM} (Correction - {TO}{TEaM} - See comments)

16 Spots on bones, the first sign of poison delivering lead in healthy joints (4) PIPS {Po...n}{hIPS}

18 Choice restricting sides in European assembly (6) PLENUM {PL{Eu...aN}UM}

20 Housing Society leaving present (8) EXISTING {EXI{S}TING}

22 Relaxing sound in choir, essentially sweet flourishes (5,5) WHITE NOISE {IN+cHOIr+SWEET}*

24 Circulating bank instrument (4) LYRE {RE<=>LY}

25 Maiden one before repeated screening? (8) PREMIERE {M}{1} in {PRE}{ERE} &lit

26 Full of sex, doing new cuts (6) INTACT {I{N}T}{ACT}

DOWN

1   Elegant socialite, centrepiece of 'Gone with the Wind'? (8) DEBONAIR {DEB}{gONe}{AIR}

2   Champion in India, say, waving garland (5,5) DAISY CHAIN {CH} in {INDIA+SAY}*

3   Do wrong circles upset darling to intervene? (4,2) STEP IN {S{PET<=}IN}

4   Three notes, sum initially passed over for legal compensation (8) SOLATIUM {SO}{LA}{TI}{sUM}

5   Patient's condition (4) CASE [DD]

6   Highlight of young dog taking rest (4,2) PLAY UP {P{LAY}UP}

8   Adult in bed with ties to husband in improper arrangement? (1,3,2,3,4) A BIT ON THE SIDE {A}{IN+BED+TIES+TO+H}* 

13 Paucity largely developing with delayed yield (10) CAPITULATE {PAUCITy}*{LATE}

15 Individual introduced to watch helmsman (8) TIMONEER {TIM{ONE}ER}

17 Minor irritation at home pair choose to suppress (8) PINPRICK {IN}{PR} in {PICK}

19 Learning about a hot city (6) LAHORE {L{A}{H}ORE}

21 Pacific island nicer when lit up (6) IRENIC {I}{NICER*}

23 Grave issues from atom bomb (4) TOMB [T]

Reference List

Society = S, Maiden = M, Sex = IT, New = N, Socialite = DEB, Champion = CH, Notes = SO, LA, TI, Husband = H, Pair = PR, Hot = H, Island = I