No 14418, Wednesday 26 Feb 2025, Dr. X

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 14A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   One found in bathroom cuddling scoundrel in the raw so naughtily (6,7) SHOWER CURTAIN {CUR} in {IN+THE+RAW+SO}*

8   Slight delay? Time is money (5) SMALL S(-t+m)MALL

9   Book's remarkable thus far, outlining many skills for surviving in the wilderness (9) BUSHCRAFT {B}{THUS+FAR}* over {C}

11 Mock trial organised to tackle doubt about spies (10) ARTIFICIAL TRIAL* over {IF <= + CIA}

12 Member of a Native American people in dance institute (4) HOPI {HOP}{I}

14 Showed most outstanding butt (7) B?S?O?E ()

16 Hampered by rascal's vile deed (7) IMPEDED {IMP}{DEED*}

17 The French criminal stealing millions is brilliant (7) LAMBENT {LA}{M}{BENT}

19 Trash container in French station (7) GARBAGE {GAR{BAG}E}

21 Stormy weather to begin with - cancelled motor race in US (4) INDY wINDY

22 Bias of reporters taking bribe, backing faction endlessly (10) PREPOSSESS {PRE{SOP<=}{SEt}SS}

25 Spooner observed magnificent type of sedimentary rock (9) GREENSAND (~seen grand to greensand)

26 Encourage one struggling to control horse (3,2) EGG ON {E{GG}ON*}

27 Powerful person in the background is cool during treatment of emergencies (8,5) EMINENCE GRISE {IN} in {EMERGENCIES}* Had to cheat on this one. New word for me 

DOWN

2   Loves to cuddle husband in cosy places by the fire (7) HEARTHS {HEART{H}S}

3   Shy person left crushed by error, turning more depressed (10) WALLFLOWER {FL{L}AW<=}{LOWER}

4   Spilled beer on top of costly medieval instrument (5) REBEC {BEER}*{Co...y}

5   Removing unreliable agent in US (9) UNSEATING*

6   Senorita cooking some Mexican dish (4) TACO [T]

7   Where letters are found, briefly (2,1,4) IN A WORD [C&DD]

8   Brilliant acting! Small girl secures top position in ad for show (4,7) STAR BILLING {S}{BRILLIANT*}{G}

10 He perhaps sent horrid criminal to abduct prince (5,6) THIRD PERSON {SENT+HORRID}* over {P}

13 Place to catch glimpse of ravishing woman in brown athletic clothes (10) SPORTSWEAR {SPO{Ra...g}T}{S{W}EAR}

15 Put down container over top of armoire, please (9) ENTERTAIN {ENTER}{T{Ar...e}IN}

18 Trimmed junk in period of pregnancy (7) MIDTERM* 

20 Retaliates with nerve gas, cruelly killing king (7) AVENGES {NErVE+GAS}*

23 Father and daughter in dock (5) PADRE {PA{D}RE}

24 Privy to star wanting cocaine for nerves at premiere (2,2) IN ON I(-c+n)NON

Reference List

Time = T, Money = M, Book = B, Many = C, Institute = I, Millions = M, Horse = GG, Cool = IN, Husband = H, Left = L, Small = S, Girl = G, Prince = P, Woman = W, King = R, Daughter = D, Cocaine = C