No 14939, Tuesday 03 Nov 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 25A 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

1   Former partner not completely inflexible about engaging with sweetheart (2-4) EX-WIFE {FIXEd<=} over {W} and {swEet}

4   Leaders in power saw disheartened youngsters inspiring fashionable visionaries (8) PSYCHICS {Po..r}{Saw}{Yo...rS} over {CHIC}

9   Measure regal London homes (6) GALLON [T]

10 Tough working on his goal after leaving school (8)  HOOLIGAN {ON+HIs+GOAL}*

11 So, each goes in lost cause (4,5,5)  WILD GOOSE CHASE {SO+EACH+GOES}* [RA]

13 Assign fee (10) COMMISSION [DD]

14 Pair of setters in viral image (4) MEME {ME}{ME}

16 Starts from trio unexpectedly blowing air instrument (4) TUBA Acrostic

18 Irreverently, loud sass beginning to provoke worker, largely discontented (10) FLIPPANTLY {F}{LIP}Pr...e}{ANT}{La...lY}

21 What Houdini might have said when denied permission to perform (2,5,3,4) MY HANDS ARE TIED [C&DD]

23 Regretted about magazine's last piece on topless girl published again (8) REISSUED {R{m...nE}{mISS}UED}

24 Author's copy in both ends of store (6) SCRIBE {Sto{CRIB}rE}

25 First knight ringing maiden had to propose (8) N?M?N?T?  

26 Often reviewed lead genres by geographical area (6) BENGAL {LeAd_GeNrEs+By<=}

DOWN

1   Advantage earned during game especially at the outset (4) EDGE Acrostic

2   With 22 Down, legendary hero shall report around one in the morning (7,4) WILLIAM TELL {WILL}{TELL} over {1 AM}

3   Bright student barging into meals getting drunk (8) FLOODLIT {F{L}OOD}{LIT}

5   Without question, extremely sensuous blouse's a sensation (11) SHOWSTOPPER {HOW} in {Se...oS} and {TOP}{PER}

6   Local icon's clothing material (6) CALICO [T]

7   Batting by reportedly huge person with no appreciation (7) INGRATE {IN}{(~great)GRATE}

8   Therefore, trust in earnest (9) SINCERELY {SINCE}{RELY}

12 Rudely boos the French fragrance that's out of date (11) OBSOLESCENT {BOOS*}{LE}{SCENT}

13 A new tarmac made to accommodate a vessel (9) CATAMARAN {A+N+TARMAC}* over {A}

15 Trace lake submerged in section with frozen water (8) PARTICLE {PART}{IC{L}E}

17 Faith of some oddly following Arab nation mostly lacking resistance (7) BAHAISM {SoMe}<=>{BAHrAIn}

19 Fruitful working together as a set in broadcast (7) TEEMING (~teaming)

20 Quentin's found frequently in concert (6) UNISON {qUeNtInS+fOuNd}

22 See 2 Down

Reference List

With = W, School = S, Loud = L, Student = L, The in French = LE, New = N, Lake = L, Resistance = R

No 14938, Monday 02 Nov 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 25A 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

1   Brought back ace detectives to probe extremely gruesome massacre (8) GENOCIDE {ONE<=}{CID} in {Gr...mE}

5   Injured ribcage, needs right device that reduces swelling (3,3) ICE BAG {rIBCAGE}*

10 Park near a city in California (7) GARDENA {GARDEN}{A}

11 Worker rushed to pick up cold tin of alcoholic drink (4,3) BEER CAN {BEE}{R{C}AN}

12 Remain in bed in place close to workshop (3,2) LIE UP {LIEU}{w...oP}

13 Stylish renter captivates Dutch manager (9) INTENDANT {IN}{TEN{D}ANT}

14 Brave to tackle nervous thief showing sign of cowardice (5,7) WHITE FEATHER {W{THIEF*}EATHER}

18 What teacher might do at end of class to forget past mistakes (Continued in 6 Down) (4,3,5,5) WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN [DD]

21 Exhibition by director in compound after broadcast (5,4) TRADE FAIR {D} in {AFTER*}{AIR}

23 Reason to have square bed (5) ROOST {ROO{S}T}

24 Friend hosting popular artiste's last daytime performance (7) MATINEE {MAT{IN}{a...tE}E}

25 Waste time in bash controlling old fellow getting high (4,3) G?O? O?F (Addendum - GOOF OFF {G{O}O}{F}{OFF} - See comments)

26 Assess again as retreat's largely revamped (6) RERATE RETREAt*

27 Continue to consume gin on the rocks with starter of raw fish (8) STINGRAY {ST{GIN*}{Raw}AY}

DOWN

1   Group of animated people shaking a leg after drinking grog on vacation (6) GAGGLE {A+LEG}* over {GroG}

2   Queen enthralled by seven, rare butterflies (6) NERVES {NE{R}VES*}

3   Fellow's angry about wife's latest unkind remark (5,4) CHEAP SHOT  {CH{wifE}APS}{HOT}

4   Unable to function and inert? Had weed at rave (4,2,3,5) DEAD IN THE WATER*

6   See 18 Across (5)

7   Second expert checking husband's lumbago (8) BACKACHE {BACK}{AC{H}E}

8   Endless spell involved in magical being's birth (8) GENITURE {GENI{TURn}E}

9   Italian on round trip enthralled by a smart, attractive woman (1,3,2,3,5) A BIT OF ALL RIGHT {IT}{O}{FALL} in {A}{BRIGHT}

15 PM of Cuba leaving oceanfront complex (9) AFTERNOON {OcEANFRONT}*

16 Write to master about cheater (3-5) TWO-TIMER {WRITE+TO+M}*

17 Slop in small dish (8) SPLATTER {S}{PLATTER}

19 Almost jump and run excitedly to receive Oscar award (6) HONOUR {HOp}{RUN*} over {O}

20 Gasp! No power in filthy place that's airless (6) STUFFY {ST{pUFF}Y}

22 German painter in ultramodern studio (5) ERNST [T]

Reference List

Right = R, Cold = C, Stylish = IN, Dutch = D, Director = D, Square = S, Popular = IN, Queen = R, Husband = H, Italian = IT, Cuba = C, Master = M, Small = S, Oscar = O, Power = P