No 14454, Wednesday 09 Apr 2025, Saral

Solution to 24A 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

8   Metal chip one brought forward (6) SILVER S(+1)IL(-1)VER

9   A democrat near California engaged in election campaign (8) ADVOCATE {A}{D}{VO{CA}TE}

11 Department preparing cities for peace treaty (9) ARMISTICE {ARM}{CITIES*}

12 Gist of article by setter (5) THEME {THE}{ME}

13 Order food containing good nutrients primarily (9) ALIGNMENT {ALI{G}{Nu...s}MENT}

16 Nymph animatedly following layer, regularly leaving fairyland excitedly (5) NAIAD {fAIrylAND}*

17 Falsely sue queen with anger for title (7) ESQUIRE {SUE+Q}*{IRE}

19 Expert creating some art (7) MAESTRO*

21 Inundated villa was horrible inside (5) AWASH [T]

22 An Indian again chasing very drunk showing patience (9) SOLITAIRE {A}{I}{RE}<=>{SO}{LIT}

24 Joint swelling is huge (5) J?M?O (Addendum - JUMBO {J}{UMBO} - See comments)

25 A time with goal amended in reminder list (9) CATALOGUE {A}{T}{GOAL*} in {CUE}

27 Stun America rejecting report issued every now and then (8) SURPRISE {US<=}{RePoRt+IsSuEd}

28 Open temporary shelter after pilgrims' arrival at first (6) PATENT {TENT}<=>{Pi...s}{Ar...l}

DOWN

1   Amplify complex case delayed (8) ESCALATE {CASE*}{LATE}

2   Some calumniated former students (6) ALUMNI [T]

3   Mostly crowded retreats (4) DENS DENSe

4   Star lost ring near eastern lounge (4) IDLE {IDoL}{E}

5   Europe, say curbing German company (10) CONTINGENT {CONTIN{G}ENT}

6   Press Association silent about jurywoman (8) PANELIST {P}{A}{SILENT*}

7   Story line for example with point (6) LEGEND {L}{EG}{END}

10 Dead flies collected around the French sea initially (8) LIFELESS {LIFE{LE}{Sea}S*}

14 People next-door building new big house, having terrace essentially (10) NEIGHBOURS {N}{BIG+HOUSE}* over {terRace}

15 Propose to drop criminal model (8) TEMPLATE conTEMPLATE

18 Problem of a GM covered by papers (8) QUAGMIRE {QU{A}{GM}IRE}

20 About to interrupt poet collapsing on volunteer in drama (8) OPERETTA {OPE{RE}T*}{TA}

21 Change notice ahead of fair (6) ADJUST {AD}{JUST}

23 One section moved behind in fireplaces (6) INGLES (-s)INGLE(+s)S

25 Endless chase perhaps for money (4) CASH CHASe*

26 Block wild foal (4) LOAF*

Reference List

Democrat = D, Good = G, Right = R, Queen = Q, Indian = I, Again = RE, Drunk = LIT, Joint = J, Time = T, Eastern = E, German = G, Press = P, Association = A, Line = L, The in French = LE, New = N, Volunteer = TA(Territorial Army), Notice = AD