No 14265, Wednesday 28 Aug 2024, Saral

Solution to 21D 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   Refuse to assume position? That's stupidity (7) DENSITY {DEN{SIT}Y}

8   Staff bringing back grain for animal (6) RABBIT {BAR<=}{BIT}

9   Abandon wasteland (6) DESERT [DD]

10 Record by one medic about plague, say (8) EPIDEMIC {EP}{1}{MEDIC*}

11 Loyalty, for example in partnership (10) ALLEGIANCE {ALL{EG}IANCE}

13 Carry short tribal emblem (4) TOTE TOTEm

14 From the beginning jokingly express sarcastic thoughts (4) JEST Acrostic Semi&lit

16 Times carrying insignificant post on social media (5) TWEET {T}{WEE}{T}

18 Browse online - mostly accurate and fine (4) SURF {SURe}{F}

19 Opening of competition without introduction (4) VENT eVENT

21 Shout following others against a union eatery (10) RESTAURANT {RANT}<=>{REST}{A}{U}

23 Engineer searches estates (8) BEQUESTS {BE}{QUESTS}

25 Guards covering royal courses (6) TRENDS {T{R}ENDS}

26 Zambians initially playing their instrument (6) ZITHER {Za...s}{THEIR*}

27 Government official in predicament over operations primarily (7) CORONER {COR{Op...s}NER}

DOWN

1   It's shocking. Corrupt enticed, trapped nationalist (8) INDECENT {I{N}DECENT*}

2   Firm headed by Indian director is coming up in region (8) DISTRICT {STRICT}<=>{{I}{D}<=

3   Often they opted for publicity (4) HYPE {tHeY+oPtEd}

4   Aspire crazily for compliment (6) PRAISE*

5   Missing dancing beats, tunes essentially (6) ABSENT {BEATS+tuNes}*

6   Disturbing letters from assassin is terrifying (8) SINISTER [T]

7   Settle daughter properly (5) DWELL {D}{WELL}

12 State presses demands (5) NEEDS (~kneads)

15 Critical examination of six geese is arranged (8) EXEGESIS*

17 Miscreants' property and gold seized at first (8) TRAITORS {TRAIT}{OR}{Se...d}

18 Doctors and force aboard ship (8) SURGEONS {S{URGE ON}S}

20 Tap with epee's tip to acknowledge hit in fencing (6) TOUCHE {TOUCH}{Epee} &lit

21 Saint taking time for turning prayer beads (6) R?S?R? (Addendum - ROSARY RO(-t+s)SARY - See comments)

22 Notice institute checking near the bottom (5) NADIR {N{AD}{I}R}

24 Take out a piece of nut from refreshment bag (4) SACK SnACK

Reference List

Record = EP(Extended Play), Time = T, Fine = F, Union = U, Engineer = BE, Royal = R, Nationalist = N, Indian = I, Director = D, Daughter = D, Ship =SS, Notice = AD, Institute = I, Saint = S, Near = NR