1-across – Treeless plain : STEPPE

5-across – Awkward situation : PICKLE

8-across – Device for wiping away excess water : SQUEEGEE

9-across – Courage : GUTS

10-across – 1970s US rock band known for wearing make-up : KISS

11-across – Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of this : THIRTEEN

12-across – Something successfully accomplished : ACHIEVEMENT

15-across – Sailor : SEAFARER

18-across – Stare open-mouthed : GAPE

19-across – Ivy League university : YALE

20-across – Careless : SLIPSHOD

21-across – Old Testament book about Moses’ successor : JOSHUA

22-across – Expensive fur : ERMINE

2-down – Mexican drink : TEQUILA

3-down – Shake hands with crowds when campaigning : PRESSTHEFLESH

4-down – Rowing crew : EIGHT

5-down – Exact : PRECISE

6-down – Conclusion reached by Descartes : COGITOERGOSUM

7-down – Kind of coffee : LATTE

13-down – Land mass formed by two continents : EURASIA

14-down – Cyclone : TYPHOON

16-down – Poetic muse : ERATO

17-down – Elevate : RAISE

1-across – Visionary, prophet : SEER

3-across – Insincere fluency : GLIBNESS

8-across – Musical piece for two : DUET

9-across – Reverie : DAYDREAM

11-across – Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation : KISSOFLIFE

14-across – Awning : CANOPY

15-across – Think about : PONDER

17-across – Horsr riders’ trail : BRIDLEPATH

20-across – Attempt unlikely to succeed : LONGSHOT

21-across – Look after : TEND

22-across – Fire starter : ARSONIST

23-across – River of death in Greek mythology : STYX

1-down – Close associate, accomplice : SIDEKICK

2-down – Church service : EVENSONG

4-down – Legally answerable : LIABLE

5-down – Easy, comfortable situation : BEDOFROSES

6-down – Water pitcher : EWER

7-down – Oil reservoir : SUMP

10-down – Assessment of similarity : COMPARISON

12-down – Lying next to : ADJACENT

13-down – Traditional, conformist : ORTHODOX

16-down – Hateful : ODIOUS

18-down – Forearm bone : ULNA

19-down – Burden : ONUS

1-across – Retinue : ENTOURAGE

8-across – Pleasant-smelling : AROMATIC

9-across – Injure, mutilate : MAIM

10-across – Occupied : BUSY

11-across – Miserliness : AVARICE

13-across – Prerequisite, necessity : DESIDERATUM

15-across – Piled-up work : BACKLOG

17-across – : STUD

20-across – Agitate : STIR

21-across – Close at hand : IMMINENT

22-across – Precarious : ONTHINICE

2-down – Retributive justice : NEMESIS

3-down – Solemn pledge : OATH

4-down – Convalescence : RECOVERY

5-down – Participant in computer pastimes : GAMER

6-down – Crustacean : CRAB

7-down – TV light entertainment : SITCOM

12-down – Reprove : ADMONISH

13-down – Lack, scarcity : DEARTH

14-down – Colossal : TITANIC

16-down – Sacred book of Islam : KORAN

18-down – Gainsay : DENY

19-down – So be it : AMEN

1-across – Friendly, affable : SOCIABLE

5-across – Secular, non-clergy : LAIC

9-across – Contagious viral disease : MUMPS

10-across – Decaying animal flesh : CARRION

11-across – Sleepwalker : SOMNAMBULIST

13-across – Punctual : ONTIME

14-across – Foment : STIRUP

17-across – Traditional English breakfast fare : BACONANDEGGS

20-across – Middle Eastern native : ISRAELI

21-across – Apportion : ALLOT

22-across – Bridge or road charge : TOLL

23-across – Person of wide learning : POLYMATH

1-down – Identical : SAME

2-down – Decaying organic material; fertilizer : COMPOST

3-down – Forgetful, pre-occupied : ABSENTMINDED

4-down – Temporary substitutes : LOCUMS

6-down – Plea of being elsewhere : ALIBI

7-down – Memorial to the dead : CENOTAPH

8-down – Treatment of several people at the same time : GROUPTHERAPY

12-down – Professionals working to influence legislators : LOBBYIST

15-down – The trappings of monarchy : REGALIA

16-down – Dark blue colour : INDIGO

18-down – Shade of deep pink : CORAL

19-down – Yen, hankering : ITCH

5-across – Gradual increase in volume : CRESCENDO

8-across – Staff of office : MACE

9-across – Size, immensity : ENORMITY

10-across – Injured party : VICTIM

11-across – Go round in circles : GYRATE

13-across – Pursue : FOLLOW

15-across – Massacre, slaughter : POGROM

16-across – Old fogey : DINOSAUR

18-across – Ridge of coral etc. : REEF

19-across – Valedictory utterance : LASTWORDS

1-down – Eastern : ORIENTAL

2-down – Respect, admiration : ESTEEM

3-down – Be owned by : BELONG

4-down – Dutch cheese : EDAM

6-down – Bad breath : HALITOSIS

7-down – Supplier of office materials : STATIONER

12-down – The clothing industry : RAGTRADE

14-down – Riches : WEALTH

15-down – Forgive, absolve : PARDON

17-down – Semi-transparent gemstone : OPAL