No 14299, Monday 07 Oct 2024, Arden

Solution to 4D 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

6   Count takes time to taper off (5) PETER {PE{T}ER}

7   Wild animal swallowed live - it's edible (4,4) LIMA BEAN {LIMA{BE}AN*}

10 Perhaps Ray allows John back, isn't very bright (7) FOOLISH {F{LOO<=}ISH}

11 Old Bob stuck in sand trap, that's the final course (7) DESSERT {DES{S}ERT}

12 Saying "Arden's back" - getting a grip perhaps? (7) EPIGRAM {ME<=} over {A+GRIP}*

13 Foreign? Time it takes China finally to copy (7) IMITATE {IM{IT}{c..nA}TE*}

14 Descriptions of old locations (11) EXPOSITIONS {EX}{POSITIONS}

19 Promises extremely peaceful borders (7) PLEDGES {Pe...uL}{EDGES}

21 Call girl's introduction - sex for money (7) RINGGIT {RING}{G}{IT}

23 She raised her voice, therefore got work and managed (7) SOPRANO {S{OP}{RAN}O}

25 Could be indefinite, clear it anyway (7) ARTICLE*

26 Criticism as help rejected by people... (8) DIATRIBE {AID<=}{TRIBE}

27 ...has to break promises (5) OATHS*

DOWN

1   A protein used for relaxing muscles (8) ATROPINE {A}{PROTEIN*} Semi&lit

2   Run in a line - seems more interested in paintings (6) ARTIER {A}{R}{TIER}

3   St. Micheal's sculpture - they tried some elemental changes (10) ALCHEMISTS*

4   Surrounded by a rising cloud... (4) ?M?D (Addendum - AMID {A}{DIM<=} - See comments)

5   ...hurricane - one picks up some lead from it (6) GALENA {GALE}{AN<=}

6   One who smokes fish (6) PUFFER [DD}

8   Way of the warrior - I do scrub on top (7) BUSHIDO {I}{DO}<=>{BUSH}

9   Complain after losing millions, say (5) UTTER mUTTER

13 Trainee crossing reservoir in Swiss town (10) INTERLAKEN {INTER{LAKE}N}

15 Show two workers (7) PAGEANT {PAGE}{ANT}

16 History on human settlement shows wisdom... (8) SAGACITY {SAGA}{CITY}

17 ...well, not even some seizure (5) SPASM {SPA}{SoMe}

18 Two articles, two points - Capital! (6) ATHENS {A}{THE}{N}{S}

20 Close to three foreign trips, full of joy and enthusiasm (6) ESPRIT {t..eE}{TRIPS*}

22 Country could be in NATO (6) NATION*

24 God's resurrection seen in American Idol (4) ODIN [T<=]

Reference List

Time = T, John = LOO, Old Bob = S, Girl = G, Sex = IT, Run = R, Millions = M