No 14278, Thursday 12 Sep 2024, Crescent

Solution to 2D 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   Compulsion to wear clothes hiding uniform (6) DURESS {D{U}RESS}

9   Dutiful old boy coming to pass on English book (8) OBEDIENT {OB}{E}{DIE}{NT}

10 Repeatedly in favour of 'mum' as a matter of courtesy (3,5) PRO FORMA {PRO}{FOR}{MA}

11 Important stuff in part to push buttons (6) KEYPAD {KEY}{PAD}

12 Showman fighting over primaries (10) IMPRESARIO {O+PRIMARIES}*

14 Hide son with relatives (4) SKIN {S}{KIN}

15 A constant nuisance, one coming from the Rose Garden? (5,2,3,5) THORN IN THE FLESH [DD]

18 Objects laid getting rid of Yankee cracksmen (in the US) (4) EGGS yEGGS

20 Stuff intercepted by port ends in Germany breaking coded message (10) CRYPTOGRAM {C{PORT+Ge...nY}*}RAM}

22 Feel at home in London when Mafia boss drops in to pray (6) BELONG {BE{LONdon}G}

23 Chess expert acting lame to sacrifice (8) IMMOLATE {IM}{LAME+TO}*

25 Ready to accommodate adult wanting length adjusted to look stylish (3,1,4) CUT A DASH {C{ADUlT}*ASH}

26 Authority to wield overwhelming power (6) EXPERT {EX{P}ERT}

DOWN

1   Question to duck before strange people necessary to carry on business (6) QUORUM {QU}{O}{RUM}

2   Say Magellan's notice delivered to king securing passage cost (8) ?E?F?R?R (Addendum - SEAFARER {(~see)SEA}{R} over {FARE} - See comments)

3   Customer is one who exploits? (4) USER [DD]

4   'Eyesore' from retinopathy intermittently agitates cast (3,1,6,5) NOT A PRETTY SIGHT  {RETINOPATHY+aGiTaTeS}*

5   Point in time when easily influenced people in tow make merry (4,6) WEAK MOMENT {MEN} in {TOW+MAKE}*

6   Oracles retreating piously, bishop pinches some (6) SIBYLS [T<]

7   Usual practice, insurance covers and settles (8) INHABITS {IN{HABIT}S}

13 Sense to check plugs to brand electrical equipment (10) SWITCHGEAR {S{W{ITCH}G}EAR} Not sure of annotation (Addendum - {S{WIT}{CH{G}EAR} - See comments) Annotation for G missing>

16 Superior piping above spotless counter (6-2) HIGHER-UP {HIGH}{PURE<=}

17 Spillers conceding runs, sadly including good fielders (3,5) LEG SLIPS {SPILLE(-r+g)GS}*

19 Society journal with a new catchphrase (6) SLOGAN {S}{LOG}{A}{N}

21 Places where religious rites are performed making a base for reforms (6) ALTERS ALT(-a+e)ERS

24 Chaps taking one look (4) MIEN {M{1}EN}

Reference List

Uniform = U, Old boy = OB, English = E, Book = NT(New Testament), Over = O, Son = S, Yankee = Y, Chess expert = IM(International Master), Length = L, Power = P, Question = QU, King = R, Runs = R, Good = G, Society = S, New = N, Base = E