No 14603, Wednesday 01 Oct 2025, Hypatia

Rangoli by Gowri

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

7   Great fun with one entertained by computer (8) MAJESTIC {MA{JEST}{1}C}

9   Bored by working, had director repented (6) ATONED {AT{ON}E}{D}

10 Maiden painting store (4) MART {M}{ART}

11 Stop indicator in pool lit by Spooner (5,5) BRAKE LIGHT (lake bright to brake light)

12 Season fertilizer changing Nitrogen's temperature (6) MATURE MA(-n+t)TURE

14 Gen Y girl moving cautiously (8) GINGERLY*

15 Hard to comprehend where curlers are placed (5,4,4) ABOVE ONES HEAD [C&DD]

18 Dangerous dacoit gaining time with Republican tyrant (8) DICTATOR {DACOIT+T}*{R} (Correction - {DACOIT}* over {T} with {R} - See comments)

20 In fact, his view's frequently intuitive (6) NATIVE {iN+fAcT+hIs+ViEw}

21 Work in Lahore or abroad in verbosity (10) LOGORRHOEA {GO} in {LAHORE+OR}*

22 Afghan carving a new course (4) PATH PATHan

23 Hollow spaces without frame for antenna, say (6) ?I?O?E (Addendum - DIPOLE {DIP}{hOLEs} - See comments})

24 Issued or kept confidential (8) SECRETED [DD]

DOWN

1   Managed to hold God of death back with an epic saga (8) RAMAYANA {R{YAMA<=}AN}{A}

2   Primarily nifty, elegant and tasteful! (4) NEAT Acrostic &lit

3   Permanent housing for nags (6) STABLE [DD]

4   Shows power supported by mature soldiers (8) PAGEANTS {P}{AGE}{ANTS}

5   Propose to build store e.g. outside barren location (4,6) GOBI DESERT {BID} in {STORE+EG}*

6   Deadly drug imported by permit with gangster (6) LETHAL {H} in {LET}{AL}

8   Gosh! Romancing casually in places where folks undress (8,5) CHANGING ROOMS*

13 Maverick University player turning party animal (10) UNORTHODOX {U}{NORTH}{DO<=}{OX}

16 Restaurants in great Erie street (8) EATERIES [T]

17 Aficionados in building voted to erect Church (8) DEVOTEES {VOTED*}{SEE<=}

19 Very famous Indian bank abruptly bored by working (6) ICONIC {IC{ON}ICi}

20 Trace sister at church touring America (6) NUANCE {NUN}{CE} over {A}

22 Announced petition for game (4) PREY (~pray)

Reference List

Director = D, Maiden = M, Temperature = T, Time = T, Republican = R, New = N, Power = P, Drug = H(Heroin), Gangster = AL(Capone), University = U, Player = NORTH, Church = SEE, Church = CE, America = A