I failed to complete this one to my satisfaction as I am not sure of the correct entry for 11ac. Otherwise it was a typical Dante with the usual plethora of cryptic definitions.
Across
1 Deceive and attract scorn (8)
CONTEMPT – CON (deceive) TEMPT (attract)
5 Few quarrels with sweetheart (6)
SPARSE – SPARS (quarrels) [sw]E[et] (sweetheart)
9 Secret American organisation (2,6)
IN CAMERA – an anagram (organisation) of AMERICAN
10 Catches sight of men who endanger western security? (6)
ESPIES – E SPIES (men who endanger western security)
11 Lost island coverted by the sea, almost an ocean (8)
ATLANTIS / ATLANTIC – I can make a case for both depending on whether the ‘almost’ is associated with ‘an ocean’ or ‘lost island coverted by the sea’. The comma would indicate the former, but we are always told to ignore the punctuation when parsing a clue. Either way, I’m not happy with ‘almost’ indicating a change to the final letter but, try as I might, I cannot see any alternative wordplay. Also, ‘covert’ is an adjective or noun and so cannot have a past participle. I assume that this is a typo and that it should have been ‘covered’.
12 Share out in rota (6)
RATION – an anagram (out) of IN ROTA
14 Having surveyed houses, one may warn of future problems (10)
ASTROLOGER – cryptic def.
18 Travelling drama teacher? (10)
STAGECOACH – cryptic def.
22 Some poured diesel on troubled waters (6)
EDDIES – hidden in (some) ‘pourED DIESel’
23 They lead the way in our present transport system (8)
REINDEER – cryptic def.
24 He made a late entry to the feast (6)
BANQUO – cryptic def.
25 Butchers initially involved in terrible riot at a scene of slaughter (8)
ABATTOIR – B[utchers] (butchers initially) in (involved in) an anagram (terrible) of RIOT AT A
26 Pass the rum please (6)
ELAPSE – an anagram (the rum) of PLEASE
27 Brick used by law-breaker in the beginning (8)
STALWART – an anagram (breaker) of LAW in START (the beginning)
Down
1 Swimming is dangerous with maniac around (6)
CAIMAN – An anagram (around) of MANIAC – I suppose this is intended to have a cryptic definition in that it could be dangerous to swim with a caiman around
2 She brings firm into line, perhaps (6)
NICOLE – CO (firm) in (into) an anagram (perhaps) of LINE
3 It naturally gets lighter as winter approaches (6)
ERMINE – cryptic def.
4 Visa, eg, obtained through embassy (10)
PERMISSION – PER (through) MISSION (embassy)
6 Fair / examinations should be! (8)
PASSABLE – double/cryptic def.
7 A girl’s in distress, they may be around for protection (8)
RAILINGS – an anagram (distress) of A GIRL’S IN
8 Girl holds chap up in Denmark (8)
ELSINORE – ELSIE (girl) around (holds) RON (chap) reversed (up)
13 Sports club (7,3)
CRICKET BAT – cryptic def.
15 Collect up jumble in efficient fashion (8)
ASSEMBLE – MESS (jumble) reversed (up) in ABLE (efficient fashion)
16 Bandage head with girl’s kerchief (8)
BANDANNA – B[andage) (bandage head) AND (with) ANNA (girl)
17 Is sorry about unrising incomes (8)
REVENUES – RUES (is sorry) around (about) EVEN (unrising)
19 Gradually insert in a new list (6)
INSTIL – IN plus an anagram (new) of LIST
20 Game and vegetable with a great deal of stuffing (6)
PELOTA – LOT (a great deal) in PEA (vegetable)
21 It can ruin a good deal (3,3)
DRY ROT – cryptic def. – ‘deal’ is a type of wood
Thanks Dante and Sil
I had the same thinking as you with the puzzle.
With 11a, I finally convinced myself that it was ATLANTIS – with the definition ‘Lost island coverted’ or ‘Lost island coverted by the sea’ (if one condones double use of ‘by the sea’) and the cryptic part as ‘by the sea (S)’ ‘almost an ocean’ ATLANTI(C) —> ATLANTI S. I couldn’t find the converse logic that would generate the C fo ATLANTIC – the closest would be if there was a homophone of ‘sea’, but there was no indication of one. If this word had of been placed at 23, 25 or 27a or at 15, 16 or 17 down, where the S or C was exposed, then the ambiguity of the answer would be eliminated.
Thought that STAGECOACH was almost a cryptic double definition. ERMINE was barely cryptic – but I liked it.
Hi bruce@aus
I contacted Dante regarding 11ac after I had finished and scheduled my blog. I was correct about the typo, ‘coverted’ should have been ‘covered’.
The intended definition was ‘Lost island covered by the sea’ and ‘almost an ocean’ was to indicate all but the last letter of the answer.
Thanks Gaufrid … and apologies for not noticing that it was your blog and not the normal Sil !