No 14161, Monday 29 Apr 2024, Bruno

Solution to 20A 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

1   Understated caption - it's released (6) SUBTLE SUBTitLE

4   Small vehicle going around Hollywood that lacks direction (6) SCALAR {S}{CA{LA}R}  Hollwood is in LA but that cannot mean Hollywood is LA

8   Value of ammos? Double, often at America (7) MODULUS {aMmOs+DoUbLe}{US}

9   Send Tom batting last (7) ENDMOST*

11 Random ancient philosopher drinks & drinks...mainly tequila (10) STOCHASTIC {STO{CHA'S}{Te...a}IC}

12 Cut one's shaft (4) AXIS {AX}{1'S}

13 Meeting place for mostly getting drink (5) FORUM {FOr}{RUM}

14 After second act, musical drama's filled with power, a bit of sadness, and vitriol (8) COPPERAS {aCt}{OP{P}ERA}{Sa...s}

16 Precision of account office (8) ACCURACY {AC}{CURACY}

18 Problem of mass lacking time (5) ISSUE tISSUE

20 Radical's also returning to base (4) ?O?T (Addendum ROOT {R}{TOO<=} - See comments)

21 Unbroken fake money - dubious bid to run off (10) C ONTINUOUS {CON}{TIN}{dUbiOUS}

23 Mathematical operator kids essentially turn to cover (7) DIVISOR {kIDs<=}{VISOR}

24 Dynamic family name recalled (7) KINETIC {KIN}{CITE<=}

25 Husband part of surprisingly great group (6) GATHER {H} in {GREAT}*

26 Insect starts to lay eggs behind vegetable (6) BEETLE {Lay}{Eggs}<=>{BEET}

DOWN

1   Discharge fourth slip after second wicket (5) SPOUT {sliP}<=>{S} and {OUT}

2   Ball - one can get you thrown out? (7) BOUNCER [DD]

3   Cancer of ileum and colon mainly - cadaver regularly needs to be dissected (9) LEUCAEMIA {ILUEM+Co..n+cAdAvEr}*

5   No introduction needed for legendary figure (5) CONIC iCONIC

6   Story about alcoholic drink and non-alcoholic drink (7) LIMEADE {LI{MEAD}E}

7   Suspend while turning it in saucer with tea, mainly while stirring (9) RUSTICATE {IT<=} in {SAUCER+Tea}* 

10 Mail describing aunt's ultimate rotten and unpleasant death (6,3) STICKY END {S{aunT}{ICKY}END}

13 Mathematical operation to get information on gasket (9) FACTORING {FACT}{O RING}

15 Prudish one on TV- starting to expound about setter like a barbarian (9) PRIMITIVE {PRIM}{1}{T{I}V}{Ex...d}

17 Straighten out idiot following peacemaker by sticking a little sense in (7) UNTWIST {TWIT}<=>{UN} over {Se..e}

19 Boss and a specialist scholar (7) STUDENT {STUD}{ENT}

21 Selected carbon pipe (5) CHOSE {C}{HOSE}

22 Couple has free sex on the counter (5) UNITE UN(-ti+it}ITE

Reference List

Small = S, Power = P, Time = T, Radical = R, Husband = H, Second = S, Alcoholic drink = MEAD, Carbon = C, Sex = IT