Independent on Sunday 1496 Peter

Thanks to Peter for an enjoyable puzzle. Definitions are underlined in the clues.

Across

1 Matches at Chelsea entertaining one carrying books? (7)

SATCHEL : Hidden in(… entertaining) “Matches at Chelsea“.

5 Symbol in text is ring over loop (7)

DINGBAT : DING(to make a ringing sound like a bell) + reversal of(over) TAB(a loop;a small flap of material attached to something to hold or fasten the latter). D0 … other than letters or numerals, indicating divisions or replacing letters.

9 Dummy swapping diamonds for time in temporary accommodation (5)

MOTEL : “model”(a dummy, in a shop window modelling clothing, say) with “d”(abbrev. for the suit of diamonds in card games) replaced by(swapping … for …) “t”(abbrev. for “time”).

10 Medical examination for relative with second pulse (9)

MAMMOGRAM : MAM(informal term for one’s mother, a relative) plus(with) MO(short for “moment”, such as a second, as in “wait a moment”) + GRAM(chickpeas or other pulses used as food).

11 Second attempt to get hydrogen and nitrogen into surprisingly nice poison (10)

STRYCHNINE : S(abbrev. for “second” in time notation) + TRY(an attempt) plus(to get) [ H(symbol for the element hydrogen) plus(and) N(symbol for the element nitrogen) ] contained in(into) anagram of(surprisingly) NICE.

12 Dog in river leaving scent (4)

TAIL : “trail”(a scent used in following someone or hunting an animal) minus(… leaving) “r”(abbrev. for “river”).

Defn: To follow after someone closely and persistently.

14 Potter’s electronic tool? (5,7)

SPELL CHECKER : Cryptic defn: Reference to Harry Potter, the fictional character who casts spells, and presumably would use some sort of tool to check them out.

Defn: A computer programme that checks the spelling of text inputs.

18 Urban set near newly built underground (12)

SUBTERRANEAN : Anagram of(… newly) URBAN SET NEAR.

21 Whirlwind decapitated cuddly toy (4)

EDDY : “teddy”(short for a teddy bear, a cuddly stuffed toy) minus its 1st letter(decapitated …).

22 Spring cured so-called rich (4-6)

WELL-HEELED : WELL(a spring;a source of water, say, from underground) + homophone of(… so-called) “healed”(cured of a disease, say).

25 Flavouring made from small fruit in perfect condition (9)

SPEARMINT : S(abbrev. for “small”) + PEAR(a fruit) + MINT(in perfect condition;unused).

Defn: The common garden mint from which is derived the flavouring of the same name.

26 Force independent politician to meet the Spanish (5)

IMPEL : I(abbrev. for “Independent”, describing a candidate who belongs to no particular political party) + MP(abbrev. for a Member of Parliament, an elected politician) plus(to meet) EL(Spanish for “the”).

27 Queen stopping King Edward, say, being sent back to refuge (7)

RETREAT : Reversal of(…, being sent back) [ ER(abbrev. for Elizabeth Regina, the Queen) contained in(stopping) TATER(informal term for “potato”, a variety of which;say, is the King Edward) ].

28 Priest in newly sealed container slipped away (7)

ELAPSED : P(abbrev. for “priest”) contained in(in … container) anagram of(newly) SEALED.

Down

1 Prophet tucked into South American snack (6)

SAMOSA : AMOS(a Minor Prophet) contained in(tucked into) SA(abbrev. for “South American”).

2 Head of troubled university going to sort out staff (6)

TUTORS : 1st letter of(Head of) “troubled” + U(abbrev. for “University”) plus(going to) anagram of(… out) SORT.

Defn: … at a learning institution, a university with problems, say. Nice surface.

3 Hitler and Luftwaffe finally prepared to keep officer in aircraft (10)

HELICOPTER : Anagram of(… prepared) [HITLER plus(and) last letter of(… finally) “Luftwaffe“] containing(to keep) COP(informal term for a police officer).

4 Colour of worthless item (5)

LEMON : Double defn: 2nd: …, such as a new car that gives numerous problems.

5 West Indian academic taking car to California (9)

DOMINICAN : DON(an academic at a university) containing(taking) [ MINI(the iconic British car, first produced in the 60s) plus(to) CA(abbrev. for the US state of California) ].

Defn: … from the Dominican Republic.

6 Beginner returning favour … (4)

NOOB : Reversal of(returning) BOON(a favour or request asked of someone).

Defn: One who is inexperienced in a particular activity, especially in computing or Internet usage.

One of those clues that requires a checking letter to confirm which end of the clue is the definition.

7 … Supports housing a minister in military accommodation (8)

BARRACKS : BACKS(supports) containing(housing) [ A + RR(abbrev. for “Right Reverend”, a title for certain religious figures, or ministers) ].

8 Note on mobile model about start of regeneration for tardis user (4,4)

TIME LORD : TI(the seventh note of a major scale in music) placed above(on, in a down clue) anagram of(mobile) MODEL containing(about) 1st letter of(start of) “regeneration“.

Defn: What Dr. Who – the TV series character with his time machine, the TARDIS – was. It’s now a she-lord and her time machine:

13 Sage mixes a cocktail for second Sunday in Lent (10)

SEXAGESIMA : Anagram of(… cocktail) SAGE MIXES A.

Defn: …, the Christian religious observance period.

15 Liberal listened to criminal and thief (9)

LARCENIST : L(abbrev. for “Liberal”, one belonging to the Liberal Party) + homophone of(listened to) “arsonist”(a criminal who deliberately sets fire to property).

16 Fools mostly stood up for judge (8)

ASSESSOR : ASSES(fools;human forms of those reputedly dim animals) + reversal of(… up, in a down clue) “rose”(stood up from a lying, sitting or kneeling position) minus its last letter(mostly …).

17 Good decoration on stamp books (8)

OBEDIENT : OBE(abbrev. for “Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”, an honour or decoration given to individuals by the Queen) placed above(on, in a down clue) DIE(a stamp;a device for moulding metal into a specific shape) + NT(abbrev. for the New Testament, the collection of books in the Bible).

Defn: …, in terms of following orders.

19 Central ingredient in bread featuring in food waste lists (6)

SLOPES : Middle letter of(Central ingredient in) “bread” contained in(featuring in) SLOPS(food waste).

Defn: …;leans to one side.

20 Confused clergyman taken in by dodgy deal (6)

ADDLED : DD(abbrev. for “Doctor of Divinity”, a degree conferred on outstanding religious scholars, whom, I presume, most clergymen are) contained in(taken in by) anagram of(dodgy) DEAL.

23 Furious athlete losing three extremities in revolving machine (5)

LATHE : Anagram of(Furious) [ “athlete” minus 1st and last letters of(losing … extremities) “three” ].

24 Poacher nearly catching bird (4)

ERNE : Hidden in(… catching) “Poacher nearly“.