No 14865, Thursday 06 Aug 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 11A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Love on the rebound! Strove after losing his heart and matured! (7) EVOLVED {LOVE<=}{ViED}

8   Fair basis of sharing a part or split (3,4) PRO RATA*

10 Sick one, very engrossed in exploit that is unreal (8) ILLUSIVE {ILL}{US{1}{V}E}

11 500 make love and magic! (6) V?O?O? 

12 Disapproving sound, it reflects female habit! It transforms into a sweet flavour! (5-6) TUTTI-FRUTTI {TUT}{IT<=}{F}{RUT}{IT*}

15 Years ago, devised by Patanjali (4) YOGA {Y}{AGO*} Semi&lit

17 Some irritate heedlessly and snigger (2-3) TE-HEE [T]

18 Soil in Buffalo, America (4) LOAM [T]

19 He devours or cooks appetiser (4,7) HORS D'OEUVRE*

22 One who holds liquor without a hint of restraint? (6) BEARER {BE{A}{Re...t}ER}

23 South ignored marketed name, welcomed learner and earlier partner (3,5) OLD FLAME {sOLD}{F{L}AME}

25 One about to get married in cafe around England (7) FIANCEE {IN+CAFE}*{E}

26 Flower within my grasp (7) MASTERY {M{ASTER}Y}

DOWN

1   Advance a prop, possibly for overpopulation (9) EVOLUTION {EVOLUTION+A+PROP}=OVERPOPULATION [CA]

2   Female relative hosting large parade (6) FLAUNT {F}{L}{AUNT}

3   This Himalayan man is still fictional essentially (4) YETI {YET}{f..tIo..l}

4   A teen mostly locked in closet with latest issue of Nancy Drew, perhaps (7,3) PRIVATE EYE {PRIV{A}{TEEn}Y}{i..uE}

5   Provide weapons to old hide-out, rockets and heraldry (8) ARMORIAL {ARM}{O}{LAIR<=}

6   Small and also large seat (5) STOOL {S}{TOO}{L}

9   Shape of toned heart throbs (11) TETRAHEDRON*

13 Teen birder struggling to mix (10) INTERBREED*

14 Something that prevents copyright violations with a model English royal brand (9) WATERMARK {W}{A}{T}{E}{R}{MARK}

16 Fan promotion at this place? Not on vacation! (8) ADHERENT {AD}{HER}{NoT}

20 Twisting and turning sound, time for mass (6) VOLUTE VOLU(-m+t)TE

21 Unfortunately tries to appear in examination again (5) RESIT*

24 No more fear! No resistance! (4) DEAD DrEAD

Reference List

Very = V, Female = F, Habit = RUT, Years = Y, South = S, Learner = L, England = E, Large = L, Closet = PRIVY, Old = O, Small = S, With = W, Model = T, Royal = RPromotion = AD, Time = T, Mass = M, Resistance = R

No 14864, Wednesday 05 Aug 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   A purer gent styled in an engrossing novel (4-6) PAGE-TURNER*

9   Missing nothing, only killing by a wild cat (4) LYNX {oNLY}*{X}

10 Harry renounced truth about English criminal (5-3-7) UNDER-THE-COUNTER {RENOUNCED+TRUTH}* over {E}

11 Small side around river or brook (6) STREAM {S}{T{R}EAM}

12 Looks after terms of service for drunkards (8) TOSSPOTS {SPOTS}<=>{TOS}

14 Basic unit in Excel layout! (4) CELL [T]

15 Bleak day's back (5) DREAR {D}{REAR}

16 Time to run with English knight for expedition (4) TREK {T}{R}{E}{K}

17 Drive of the majority wanting small personal sacrifices! Public relations! (8) MOTIVATE {MOsT}{prIVATE}

18 Chinese silk cloth from some sponge extract (6) PONGEE [T]

19 Bury to pass stage one at England, amongst universities (15) INTERCOLLEGIATE {INTER}{COL}{LEG}{1}{AT}{E}

21 Untidiness of officer's eating place (4) MESS [DD]

22 Work during days, more confident about following one who sails on board (10) WINDSURFER {W}{IN}{D}{SUR{F}ER}

DOWN

1   Done with parent shifts! Taking time to have fun in open! (5,3,4,3) PAINT THE TOWN RED  {DONE+WITH+PARENT}* over {T}

2   Seen as a relieved kind of affliction (8,7) VENEREAL DISEASE*

3   Head's cut time to call, left out AV, for example (10) ?U?T?M?D?A (Addendum - MULTIMEDIA {MULl}{TIME}{DIAl} - See comments)

4   Bug checker with nil pretences! Let about! (6,9)  INSECT REPELLENT*

5   So involved in greater good (4) ERGO [T]

6   Ambassador of India, powerful in general (15) PLENIPOTENTIARY {I}{POTENT}{I} in {PLENARY} Second I from?

7   Heard 'Nehru' tweet translated poorly (5,3,7) UNDER THE WEATHER*

13 Demi Moore's movie lines, model for cold naturalness (10) STRIPTEASE {STRIP}{T}{EASE}  (Correction - {S(-c+t)TRIPT}{EASE} - See comments)

20 Intimidate with large hood (4) COWL {COW}{L}

Reference List

By = X, English = E, Small = S, River = R, Day = D, Time = T, Run = R, Knight = K, Public relations = PR, Pass = COL, England = E, Work = W, Following = F, India = I, Model = T, Cold = C, Large = L