Independent on Sunday 1460 Hypnos

Thanks Hypnos, for an enjoyable crossword. Definitions are underlined in the clues.

Across

1 Bachelor pulsating with energy in domestic garment? (8)

BATHROBE : B(abbrev. for “bachelor”) + ATHROB(pulsating, as with your heart) plus(with) E(symbol for “energy” in physics).

5 Crop, perhaps, I hoard for cultivation (6)

HAIRDO : Anagram of(… for cultivation) I HOARD.

Defn: An example of which;perhaps is the crop, where the hair is cut very short.

9 Cold in beginning of autumn I term largely doubtful (9)

SCEPTICAL : C(abbrev. for “cold”) contained in(in) SEPT(abbrev. for September, when autumn begins) + I + “call”(to term;to label) minus its last letter(largely).

11 Small, specialised group engaged in manic headbanging (5)

NICHE : Hidden in(engaged in) “manic headbanging“.

Defn: … as in “a niche market”.

12 Singer given a flag endlessly backed by old artist (4,3)

RITA ORA : Reversal of(… backed) [A + “tire”(to flag;to weaken) minus its last letter(endlessly) ] plus(by) O(abbrev. for “old”) + RA(abbrev. for “Royal Academican”, a member of the Royal Academy of Arts;an artist).

13 Information about lake gained by runner once in Scottish village (7)

GLENCOE : GEN(information) containing(about) L(abbrev. for “lake”) plus(gained by) COE(Sebastian or Seb, once middle-distance champion runner). 

14 Restraint characteristic in second part of a book? (12)

STRAITJACKET : TRAIT(a distinguishing characteristic or quality) contained in(in) [ S(abbrev. for “second” in time notation) + JACKET(part of a book, viz. its cover) ].

18 Source of inspiration in work of popular aged coach (3,9)

PEP GUARDIOLA : The 1st letter of(Source of) “inspiration” contained in(in) anagram of(work of) POPULAR AGED.

Defn: …, and currently manager of the Manchester City football team. (As an aside, is he also coach of the team?)

21 A liberal, upper-class character recalled in horror novel (7)

DRACULA : Reversal of(… recalled) [A + L(abbrev. for “liberal”) + U(signifying upper-class) + CARD(a character;a witty and amusing person) ].

22 US actor facing right area to take in British plant (7)

GERBERA : GERE(Richard, US movie actor) plus(facing) R(abbrev. for “right”) + A(abbrev. for “area”) containing(to take in) B(abbrev. for “British”).

24 Profitable source that includes cold type of meat (5)

MINCE : MINE(a profitable source of material or data) containing(that includes) C(abbrev. for “cold”).

25 Charge defended by English conservationists on river transport (9)

ENRAPTURE : RAP(a criminal charge, as in “a murder rap”) contained in(defended by) [ E(abbrev. for “English”) + NT(abbrev. for the National Trust, conservation organisation that preserves and protects historic places and spaces) ] placed above(on, in a down clue) URE(river in Yorkshire, England).

Defn: To overwhelm with strong emotion, especially joy.

26 Trainees given poor grades in musical (6)

CADETS : D,E(grades indicating that a student’s piece of work is of poor quality) contained in(in) CATS(the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical).

27 Support a medic keeping very active by country’s borders (8)

ADVOCACY : [ A + DOC(short for “doctor”;a medic) containing(keeping) V(abbrev. for “very”) ] + A(abbrev. for “active”, in acronyms for various terms, such as “Active Participation”?) plus(by) the 1st and last letters of(…’s borders) “country“.

Defn: … for a cause or proposal.

Down

1 Writer covering first half of stay in small restaurant (6)

BISTRO : BIRO(a writing instrument;a writer;a ballpoint pen named after its Hungarian inventor) containing(covering) the 1st 2 letters of(first half of) “stay“.

2 Hear about situation with seconds to go in negotiation (6)

TREATY : TRY(to hear a case in a law court) containing(about) “seat”(a situation;a principal location, as in “the seat of government”) minus(with … to go) “s”(abbrev. for “seconds” in time notation).

Defn: Archaic term for negotiation towards an agreement.

3 Speech without limits or proportion (5)

RATIO : “oration”(a speech) minus its 1st and last letters(without limits).

4 Graduate put out a reluctance, not new, to accept a diploma (13)

BACCALAUREATE : BA(abbrev. for “Bachelor of Arts”, a graduate) + anagram of(put out) “a reluctance” minus(not) “n”(abbrev. for “new”) containing(to accept)A.

6 Comic film showing a figure internally upset by model (5,4)

ANNIE HALL : A + NINE(a figure;a number) with its internal 2 letters reversed(internally upset, in a down clue) plus(by) HALL(Jerry, model currently Mrs. Murdoch).

Defn: … directed by Woody Allen, starring him and Diane Keaton.

7 Paddy produces this waffle, say – getting light fuel? (4,4)

RICE CAKE : RICE(cereal produced from a paddy;a field where it is grown) + CAKE(an example of which;say is a waffle).

Answer: A food item that, on digestion, is converted to energy or a fuel in other words; and made from a light material, viz. baked puffed rice.

8 Patience, maybe, required in work over time covering European racing event (8)

OPERETTA : OP(abbrev. for “opus”, a musical or literary work) placed above(over, in a down clue) ERA(a long period of time) containing(covering) [ E(abbrev. for “European”) + TT(abbrev. for the Tourist Trophy motorcycle races, the annual Isle of Man event)].

Defn: Of which Patience by Gilbert and Sullivan is an example;maybe.

10 Delicate and beautiful containing good colour – like a tea leaf? (5-8)

LIGHT-FINGERED : LIGHT(delicate;gentle, as in “a light touch”) + FINE(beautiful;excellent, as in “a fine figure”) containing(containing) G(abbrev. for “good”) + RED(a colour).

Defn: …, a thief in rhyming slang.

15 Obstreperous uncle moved to stand for society in credit (9)

TRUCULENT : Anagram of(… moved) UNCLE replacing(to stand for) “s”(abbrev. for “society”) in “trust”(credit, as in “to sell on trust”).

16 Prevalent notion in short by male in large-scale work (8)

EPIDEMIC : [ “idea”(a notion) minus its last letter(in short) plus(by) M(abbrev. for “male”) ] contained in(in) EPIC(a large-scale work, eg. a book or a movie).

17 Writing, say, in country by journalist regarding a damaged joint? (8)

SPRAINED : R(writing, say, one of the 3 Rs viz. reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic) contained in(in) SPAIN(the European country) plus(by) ED(abbrev. for “editor”, a journalist).

19 A bulge at sea revealing marine creature (6)

BELUGA : Anagram of(… at sea) A BULGE.

20 Fellow on film interrupting, for example, snooker shot (6)

SAFETY : [ F(a “fellow”) placed above(on, in a down clue) ET(the Steven Spielberg film, a favourite in crosswordland) ] contained in(interrupting) SAY(for example).

Defn: … played defensively, in order not to present your opponent with a scoring opportunity.

23 Copy more profitable sandwiches (5)

REPRO : Hidden in(… sandwiches) “more profitable“.

Defn: A copy, in short.