No 14312, Wednesday 23 Oct 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 5A 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   Popular celebrity going around with damsel at premiere (8) STANDARD {ST{AND}AR}{Da...l}

5   Strengthen unit to break revolutionary group (4,2) ?O?E ?P (Addendum - TONE UP - {ONE} in {PUT<=} - See comments)

10 Model in snap, mostly consuming dope (7) CLASSIC {CL{ASS}ICk}

11 Groups of eight in old tunnels around Thailand (7) OCTAVES {O}{C{T}AVES}

12 Help to review article about princess (5) DIANA {AID<=}{AN<=]

13 One left helpless, primarily overwhelmed by potentially lethal sickness (3,6) ILL HEALTH {1}{L}{L{He...s}EALTH*}  Semi&lit

14 Aside from wild tigers, he saw glimpse of panther (5,7) STAGE WHISPER {TIGERS+HE+SAW+Pa...r}*

18 Told cooks to bring in fine oriental starter of teriyaki chicken (5,3,4) BROKE THE NEWS {BR{OK}{E}{Te...i}{HEN}EWS}

21 Suspects swindle but strangely taken in by young lady (9) MISDOUBTS {MIS{DO}{BUT*}S}

23 I don't spread rumour (2-3) ON-DIT*

24 Palimpsest in athenaeum contains poem of six six-line stanzas (7) SESTINA [T]

25 Swilling egg nog and gin non-stop (7) ONGOING {O+NOG+GIN}*

26 Couple in lake docked craft (6) METIER {ME{TIE}Re}

27 Drunk woman reeled outside bar and tumbled about (8) WELTERED {W+REELED*} over {T}

DOWN

1   Leave court after winning custody at first case of divorce (6) SECEDE {SE{Cu...y}E}{Di...cE}

2   American lawyer abducted by outlaw in Iranian city (6) ABADAN {A}{BA{DA}N}

3   Separate from heartless nut, stifled by miserable marriage finally (9) DISMANTLE {DISMA{NuT}L}{m...gE}

4   Batter caught hooking recklessly, disturbing a stable situation (7,3,4) ROCKING THE BOAT {BATTER+C+HOOKING}*

6   Unusual route at sea (5) OUTRE*

7   Case of jealousy, dumps hubby finally to run away (8) ENVELOPE {ENVy}{ELOPE}

8   Hundreds at inauguration entertained by troops playing new wind instrument (4,4) POST HORN {POST{Hu...s}OR*}{N}

9   Take the instinctive course like dog tracking a scent might do? (6,4,4) FOLLOW ONES NOSE [DD]

15 Intricately decorated sketch secured by twine cut artfully (9) INWROUGHT {ROUGH} in {TWINe}*

16 Stomach problem after a gathering around afternoon (8) ABOMASUM {SUM}<=>{A}{MOB<=} over {A}

17 Look after residence temporarily as she is out travelling (5-3) HOUSE-SIT*

19 Precarious ridge below peak of Everest - becoming more anxious (6) EDGIER {RIDGE}*<=}{Ev...t}

20 Presented revolutionary French artist introducing latest in art (6) STAGED {DEGA{arT}S<=}

22 Nothing pleasant in prison (2,3) ON ICE {O}{NICE}

Reference List

Old = O, Thailand = T, Left = L, Oriental = E, Swindle = DO, Woman = W, Bar = T, Court = SEE< American = A, Lawyer = DA, Caught = C, New = N, Afternoon = A