No 14001, Saturday 21 Oct 2023, Dr. X

Artwork by Prasanna

ACROSS

1   Flog after securing rope kinkily in sexual activity (8) FOREPLAY {F{ROPE*}LAY}

5   A subject relating to type of allergy (6) ATOPIC {A}{TOPIC}

10 Colour of coaster smuggling dope close to Goa (7) MAGENTA {MA{GEN}T}{goA}

11 Automatic rifle dacoit used to kill lawyer (7) ROBOTIC {ROB}{daCOIT}*

12 Grandmother's unexpected gift, a little necklace for maiden (5) NANNA (-m+n)NANNA

13 Party endlessly involved in work for development (9) ACCRETION {AC{CREw}TION}

14 Somehow coped with payment for surgical procedure (12) APPENDECTOMY {COPED+PAYMENT}*

18 Disheartened, curse after rogue applied for most prominent position (5,2,5) PRIDE OF PLACE {CursE}<=>{APPLIED+FOR}* 

21 Wait until next day to decide what to do with mattress (5,2,2) SLEEP ON IT [C&DD]

23 Girl overwhelmed by distressing elegy (5) DIRGE {DIR{G}E}

24 Knocked unconscious by hooligan, receiving help (4,3) LAID OUT {L{AID}OUT}

25 Morale's high after hiring new medical social worker (7) ALMONER {ALMO{N}ER*}

26 Seal batch containing contaminated gin (6) SIGNET {S{GIN*}ET}

27 Extortionate unionist wanting power, fraudulent (8) USURIOUS {U}{SpURIOUS}

DOWN

1   Raise warning, overcome by extremes of fright (6) FOMENT {Fri{OMEN}ghT}

2   Seeing red drink picked up by kid (6) RAGING {RA{GIN}G}

3   Long programme on extremely large fruit (9) PINEAPPLE {PINE}{APP}{LargE}

4   Scoundrel in Santa Fe took off very fast (2,1,4,2,5) AT A RATE OF KNOTS {RAT} in {SANTA+FE+TOOK}*

6   Fit after starting to try diet (5) TABLE {ABLE}<=>{Try}

7   Endless quarrel after darling knocked back spirit to quibble over trifles (8) PETTIFOG {TIFf}<=>{PET}{GO<=}

8   Tips to tackle mounting hunger in East Londoners (8) COCKNEYS {COCK{YEN<=}S}

9   Actors recoiled artfully, showing fake grief (9,5) CROCODILE TEARS*

15 Nut in convention hosted by rising star (4-2-3) COCO-DE-MER {CO{CODE}MER}

16 Letters from oriental saint in packets (8) EPISTLES {E}{PI{ST}LES}

17 Independent survey conducted by group is interesting (8) RIVETING {R{I}{VET}ING}

19 American in Mexico shot outside arena (6) GRINGO {G{RING}O}

20 Insecticide powder, risky to consume (6) DERRIS [T]

22 Confirm likely victory for nationalist (5) PROVE PRO(-n+v)VE

Reference List

Lawyer = DA, Maiden = M, Girl = G, New = N, Power = P, Kid = RAG, Oriental = E,  Victory = V, Nationalist = N