No 14567, Tuesday 19 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 23A 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   Average American chap touring a South American country (8) PARAGUAY {PAR}{A}{GU{A}Y}

5   Climax as groom passionately expresses love (6) ORGASM {AS+GRoOM}*

10 Suspect in retreat smuggling dope and ecstasy is a spa employee (7) MASSEUR {RUM<=}{ over {ASS}{E}

11 Dump rotten egg picked up by boy (7) OFFLOAD {OFF}{L{O}AD}

12 Scratched back, having ultimately irritating fungal disease (5) ERGOT {TO{i...nG}RE<=}

13 Extraordinary trick to steal painting by Leonardo at inauguration (9) STARTLING {ST{ART}{Le...o}ING}

14 & 16 How to make quartet draw a conclusion from various facts (3,3,3,3,8) PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER [DD]

18 Noticeable rash developing around body part with the passage of time (4,3,5) OVER THE YEARS {OVERT}{H{EYE}ARS*}

21 Wondered about saving a little income to provide comfort in retirement (9) EIDERDOWN {E{In...e}DERDOWN*}

23 Jagged lesion around middle of leg (5) E?O?E (Addendum - EROSE {SORE<=}{lEg} - See comments)

24 Heroin used by Romeo to get more aroused (7) HORNIER {HEROIN*}{R}

25 Fantastic recipe captivating posh gourmet (7) EPICURE {EPIC{U}RE*}

26 Tottered in base, left enthralled by grass (6) REELED {RE{E}{L}ED}

27 Leave furtively with most affectionate fellow to have liaison (5,3) SLINK OFF {SOFt}{F} over {LINK}

DOWN

1   Pet beginning to meow in study (6) PAMPER {PA{Meow}PER}

2   Abandon girl, captivated by exotic siren (6) RESIGN {RESI{G}N*}

3   Elderly relative's wasted after drinking a little rum with lunch (5-4) GREAT-AUNT {G{R}{EAT}AUNT}

4   Terribly scared, host runs after snake enters, affecting everyone (6-3-5) ACROSS-THE-BOARD {SCARED+HOST+R}* over {BOA}

6   Renovate bar after terrible fire (5) REFIT {T}<=>{FIRE*}

7   Lovers disregarding caste initially suffered ostracism (8) AMORISTS {OSTRAcISM}*

8   Crazy journalist penning sentimental drivel was successful (4,4) MADE GOOD {MAD}{E{GOO}D}

9   Playing around with lean, lithe models hosting party? No chance at all! (3,1,4,2,4) NOT A HOPE IN HELL {ON<=}{LEAN+LITHE}* over {HOP}

15 European is wearing no pants (9) NORWEGIAN*

16 See 14 Across

17 Info on male arrested by brave police officer in France (8) GENDARME {GEN}{DAR{M}E}

19 Arboreal mammal in enclosure almost bites bear (6) COLUGO {CO{LUG}Op}

20 Concerning this star cuddling English female (6) HEREOF {HER{E}O}{F}

22 Releasing old thick-skinned animal close to Assamese river (5) RHINE {RHINo}{a...sE}

Reference List

Average = PAR, American = A, Ecstasy = E, Romeo = R, Posh = U, Base = E, Left = L, Fellow = F, Girl = G, Runs = R, Bar = T, Journalist = ED(itor), Party = HOP, Male = M, English = E, Female = F