No 14321, Monday 04 Nov 2024, Saral

Solution to 5D 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   A second pressure check for paving material (7) ASPHALT {A}{S}{P}{HALT}

5   Show mostly unadulterated wine (7) PURPORT {PURe}{PORT}

9   Basalt, ice pieces in inland water body (6,3) BALTIC SEA*

10 Drink companies starting to advertise (5) COCOA {CO}{CO}{Ad...e}

11 Old lady hiding a mark in cosmetic (7) MASCARA {M{A}{SCAR}A}

12 Islander left large cooked fish (7) SARDINE ISlANDER*

13 Stunned, speechless nationalist trumping democrat (4) NUMB (-d+n)NUMB

14 Calculated fresh rebate with leading eatery (10) DELIBERATE {REBATE*}<=>{DELI}

17 No longer worker is following course. Outrageous (10) EXORBITANT {EX}{ORBIT}{ANT}

18 Nearly obstruct alliance (4) BLOC BLOCk

21 Bomb threat close to the auditorium (7) THEATRE {THREAT*}{thE}

23 Drink after drink for all in country house (7) CHATEAU {CHA}{TEA}{U}

24 Displaying derelict artefact (5) RELIC [T] 

25 As per Spooner gang hits guides (9) HANDBOOKS (~band hooks to handbooks)

26 Scour dregs covering silver knives (7) DAGGERS {D{AG}GERS*}

27 Later learnt about epics basically, that's limitless (7) ETERNAL {LEARNT*}<=>{Epics}

DOWN

1   Protein clumps essentially in lab is mixed (7) ALBUMIN {clUMps+IN+LAB}*

2   What kabaddi players do to win? A trick! (4,7'1,3) PULL SOMEONE'S LEG [DD]

3   A picture on don is at the top spot (6) APICAL {A}{PIC}{AL}

4   Witness trial on primarily accused chaps with model (9) TESTAMENT {TEST}{Ac...d}{MEN}{T}

5   Picked up victims' petitions (5) P?A?S (Addendum PRAYS (~preys) - See comments)

6   Concerning group holding chart initially for archivist (8) RECORDER {RE}{Ch..t}{ORDER}

7   Only playing No.One album? Nice! Very rarely (4,2,1,4,4) ONCE IN A BLUE MOON {O}{NO+ONE+ALBUM+NICE}*

8   Net facility reportedly for swinger's equipment (7) TRAPEZE {TRAP}{(~ease)EZE}

15 Honesty of local, church accepted once, maybe (9) INNOCENCE {INN}{ONCE*}{CE}

16 Boy locates special bar (8) OBSTACLE {B+LOCATES}*

17 Submitted new tender after beginning of e-auction (7) ENTERED {TENDER}<=>{Ea...n}

19 So uncle making suggestion? (7) COUNSEL*

20 Short religious leader followed by the French crowd (6) RABBLE {RABBi}{LE}

22 Attitude of perhaps the boss rejecting outsiders (5) ETHOS {THE*}{bOSs}

Reference List

Second = S, Pressure = P, Company = CO, Large = L, Nationalist = N< Democrat = D, For all = U, Don = AL(Capone), Model = T, Concerning = RE, Only = O, Church = CE, Boy = B, The in French = LE