Pairing Off
by Kegler

Thirteen answers become new words (or in one case, a name) before entry, as indicated by 23 Across.

Pairing Off grid

Across
1Dentist follows introduction to outlandish Vegas numbers (4)
5Harshly criticized female cut trees (7)
11Some have a little meat (4)
12Poem is due to be recited (3)
13Synthetic sapphire sphere starts to become oblong, unbalancing lab equipment (5)
15Currently embraced by Sunday mass, one seasonal transient? (7)
16Polishing mostly-red cherry (7)
18Runs into hardwood seat (6)
19Bush essentially sprouts and takes too much forest (5)
21See, I chop ribs badly (9)
23See instructions
25Finally cleared shower pipe (5)
26Open container carried out (6)
28Unfortunately stifle that identical one (6)
30Miners write about it, warm at last (6)
33Quietly move binding holding broken pot (6)
35Insect is green with brown back (4)
36Pilots claiming victory with five small cheap old cars, once (8)
38Greeting welcoming our beautiful young woman (5)
39Blame Ms. Dotty's preserves (7)
40Encourage, for example, good running (3,2)
41Spotted Western apartment, and begged (7)
Down
1Asking too much of Clinton, packing protection after the start (11)
2Bone fragment of dwarf emu recovered (5)
3Excessively cater to supporter now staggering inside (4,2)
4Rider crosses back over republic I'd occupied (7)
6Leonard beginning to go most of the distance (6)
7Plant is very wide (3)
8Erroneously presume tip when some food is served (10)
9Antelope finish eating half of lawn (5)
10Oddly, doesn't test for minor depressions (5)
13Check out Mr. Reiner backing fight (6)
14Feature of lock, not tie strap, is hardest to figure out (9)
17Quietly involved in weight-loss program, hiking without enthusiasm (5)
20Pro untangled knot by gold depository (4,4)
22Talk with a country in Asia (5)
24Dad's returning with juice (3)
27Reamed out, alas (4,2)
29Departed hastily, keeping interest reported to the IRS, perhaps (5)
31Cover with Arizona stone (5)
32False enemy, from the sound of it (4)
34Ms. Zadora gets married in cotton (4)
36$5 paddle (3)
37Retreat from melee, ultimately, black and blue (3)

Solution