Fifteensquared

A very straightforward puzzle from Moley, with no high or low points.

Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are shown with the unused letters in brackets e.g. S(on). In common with the practice adopted by two of my fellow Quiptic bloggers, definitions are underlined in the clue and only included in explanations where further information is given.

Across

1 Change in nude is no different (9)
UNALTERED – a verb meaning to change inside an anagram (composition) of NUDE gives an adjective meaning not changed

6 Elegant son’s craving (5)
SWISH – S(on) followed by a craving

9 Congo naturalist’s broadcast: well done! (15)
CONGRATULATIONS – an anagram (broadcast) of CONGO NATURALIST

10 In space asteroid’s veering towards orient (4)
EAST – hidden inside the clue

11 Sailor’s wayward, markedly different from the norm (8)
ABERRANT – a two-letter abbreviation for a sailor followed by an adjective meaning wayward

14 Show fur, reportedly, to driver (9)
CHAUFFEUR – sounds like (reportedly) show fur

15 Expert in part of the store (5)
ADEPT – split as (1,4) this is a part of a store

16 Intended as average time (5)
MEANT – a word meaning average followed by T(ime)

18 Scared when favourite one’s fired, perhaps (9)
PETRIFIED – a favourite followed by an anagram (perhaps) of I (one) FIRED,

20 Insect animals find to be fearful pests (8)
BUGBEARS – an insect followed by some animals

21 Great drama when recipe’s returned without touching (4)
EPIC – reverse (returned) the middle part (re)CIPE(‘s)

25 Went around with iced rum, vacating ground (15)
CIRCUMNAVIGATED – an anagram (ground) of ICED RUM VACATING

26 Employees‘ greasy food sent back to France (5)
STAFF – reverse (sent back) some greasy food and follow it with the IVR code for France

27 Latter day, sassiest assembly of writers (9)
ESSAYISTS – an anagram (assembly of) of the final letter of (latter) daY with SASSIEST

Down

1 Relative part of overrun cleared (5)
UNCLE – hidden inside (part of) the clue

2 Forgetting disease, Continent accepts lost men (7)
AMNESIA – a Continent around (accepts) an anagram (lost) of men

3 Forty heading off mutinous novice (4)
TYRO – an anagram (mutinous) of (F)ORTY without its initial letter (heading off)

4 She is badly hurt (4)
RUTH – an anagram (badly) of HURT

5 Intended to ponder (10)
DELIBERATE – a double definition – intended as an adjective

6 Party World: a lighthouse in Aberdeen originally (10)
SATURNALIA – a world or planet followed by the initial letters () of four words in the clue

7 Separate unit’s very unpunctual (7)
ISOLATE – I (unit) followed by a two-letter word meaning very and an adjective meaning unpunctual

8 Hated holding knotted ties, so hung back (9)
HESITATED – HATED around (holding) an anagram (knotted) of TIES

12 Impromptu action with the wrist? (3,3,4)
OFF THE CUFF – a cryptic definition

13 Water-based paint, no coloured emulsion initially, in moderation (10)
TEMPERANCE – a water-based paint followed by the initial letters of three words in the clue

14 Arrives carrying support and replies (9)
COMEBACKS – a verb meaning arrives around a verb meaning to support

17 Country‘s changed regalia (7)
ALGERIA – an anagram (changed) of REGALIA

19 Motivation shown as time’s up, anyway (7)
IMPETUS – an anagram (anyway) of TIME’S UP

22 About poem’s rules (5)
CODES – the single-letter abbreviation of circa, the Latin for about, followed by a poem and the S from ‘S

23 First lady’s kind of pudding (4)
EVE’S – Adam’s partner and the ‘S

24 Plain fruit, reportedly (4)
UGLY – sounds like (reportedly) an Ugli® fruit