No 14095, Monday 12 Feb 2024, Crescent

Solution to 6D 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

8   God may lay devious traps (8) ALMIGHTY {AL{MIGHT}Y*}

9   Detection from sixth sense with face denying lead (6) ESPIAL {ESP}{dIAL}

10 Acute high pressure causing the proverbial storm in this? (6) TEACUP {ACUTE}*}{P}

11 Fish drift around in the middle of dragnet (8) STINGRAY {ST{IN}{draGnet}RAY}

12 Special ventilation passage keeping temperature in place for flights (8) STAIRWAY {S}{T}{AIRWAY}

14 Eating at home, time for wife to get up (6) INTAKE {IN}{(+t-w)TAKE}

15 Sheer farce, endlessly repent blowing part of capital (10,5) PREFERENCE SHARE {SHEER+FARCE+REPENt}*

18 Cheap liquor, Spooner's acquired habit (6) ROTGUT (~got rut to rotgut)

20 Toothed wheel starts to swiftly propel missile (8) SPROCKET {Sw...y}{Pr...l}{ROCKET}

22 Sculpted objects, fancy art say, leaving me mute (8) STATUARY {ART+SAY+mUTe}*

24 First lady Marcos' daughter entering international festival (6) IMELDA {I}{MEL{D}A}

25 Fellow in power on a balcony primarily ready for assembly (6) PREFAB {P}{RE}{F}{A}{B}

26 Check diamonds in custody and acknowledge (4,4) HOLD DOWN {HOL{D}D}{OWN}

DOWN

1   Nitrogen in exhaust vent ultimately flowing freely (6) FLUENT {FLUE}{N}{venT}

2   Money is capital, that's the trouble (8) MISCHIEF {M}{IS}{CHIEF}

3   Breaking statute frequently, who are black sheep - those in authority? (3,6,4,2) THE POWERS THAT BE {sTaTuTe+WHO+ARE+B+SHEEP}*

4   Agreement appended to book extras (4) BYES {YES}<=>{B}

5   The ten commandments originally ratified lie on the rocks (8,7) DEFINITE ARTICLE {TEN+Co...s+RATIFIED+LIE}*

6   Tap to hog alcoholic drinks (6) ?P?G?T (Addendum - SPIGOT {S{PIG}OT} - See comments)

7   Waving marks an American Indian salute (8) NAMASKAR {MARKS+AN+A}*

13 Upset for example about kin, heartless jerks (5) YANKS {S{KiN}AY}<=

16 Sun welcomed by those cheering birds (8) ROOSTERS {ROO{S}TERS}

17 Brewed chai close to a Mexican ranch (8) HACIENDA {CHAI*}{END}{A}

19 Escaped convict finally shares blunder by force (3,3) GOT OFF {GO{c...cT}OF}{F}

21 Dies to protect old women's funds (6) ENDOWS {END{O}{W}S}

23 Characters in Tokyo hotels call to attract attention (2-2) YO-HO [T]

Reference List

Pressure = P, Special = S, Temperature = T, Time = T, Wife = W, Daughter = D, International = I, Festival = MELA, Fellow = F, Power = P, On = RE, Diamonds = D, Money = M, Black = B, Book = B, American = A, Sun = S, Force = F, Old = O, Woman = W