No 14839, Tuesday 07 Jul 2026, Arden

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

6   One soon retrieves part of the loop (5) NOOSE [T<=]

7   Poorly dressed - carp about bum (8) FRUMPISH {F{RUMP}ISH}

10 Fellow traveller's income very good (7) COMRADE {COM{RAD}E}

11 She stops destruction with her spirit (7) BANSHEE {BAN{SHE}E}

12 Star's short reply to possessing weed (7) ANTARES {AN{TARE}S}

13 Act of anointing - do without force (7) UNCTION fUNCTION

14 Talk about separate section (11) COMPARTMENT {COM{PART}MENT}

19 Plant is clean, perhaps (7) SANICLE*

21 Subject of beer drinking girl - it comes with two cups (7) ALGEBRA {AL{G}E}{BRA}

23 Easy to read on holy book after doffing cap (7) LEGIBLE {LEG}{bIBLE} 

25 Maybe one got hard-hearted at work (2,3,2) ON THE GO {ONE+GOT+H}*

26 Alarmed about new municipal council member (8) ALDERMAN {ALARMED}*{N}

27 Burst forth and get pure extract in return (5) ERUPT [T<=]

DOWN

1   Make up for an alien in heavenly surroundings (8) COSMETIC {COSM{ET}IC}

2   Set right the salesman's attitude (6) REPAIR {REP}{AIR}

3   Eat dessert topping or bay rum? (10) ?F?E?S?A?E (Addendum - AFTERSHAVE {HAVE}<=>{AFTERS} - See comments)

4   Leaders never understand most basics, have no feeling (4) NUMB Acrostic

5   Another mishit results in thin strips (6) ISTHMI*

6   Approach outside court, honey (6) NECTAR {NE{CT}AR}

8   Long search to begin with confidence (7) PANACHE {ACHE}<=>{PAN}

9   Do live with a refusal (5) BEANO {BE}{A}{NO} 

13 Somewhat terrible pain - opt out (2,2,1,5) UP TO A POINT*

15 Fearsome animal casing the vehicle (7) MACABRE {MA{CAB}RE}

16 Shows board with gold cross (8) TABLEAUX {TABLE}{AU}{X}

17 Carol's school dress is appropriate (5) PSALM {P{S}ALM}

18 Raised pig without animal handler (6) MAHOUT {HAM<=}{OUT}

20 Upset horse in the middle of a river (6) NIGGLE {NI{GG}LE}

22 Complete after midnight - refuse to go in here (6) GUTTER {UTTER}<=>{niGht}

24 Manages to trim the top of trees (4) ELMS hELMS

Reference List

Force = F, Girl = G, Hard = H, New = N, Alien = ET, Court = CT, School = S, Horse = GG

No 14838, Monday 06 Jul 2026, Arden

Solution to 17D 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   PM comes to grip with a druggie without work and his method of working (5,8) MODUS OPERANDI {MOD{US{{OP}ER}{AND}I}

10 Slammed as the little devil played a role (5) ACTED impACTED

11 With home study make true agreement (9) INDENTURE {IN}{DEN}{TRUE*}

12 Rage about one going underwater — it's highly corrosive (4,5) AQUA REGIA {REG{1}A*}<=>{AQUA}

13 Sweep opening, take time off for golf (5) DEBUG DEBU(-t+g)G

14 The German drink will subside (3,4) DIE DOWN {DIE}{DOWN} 

16 Good natured, is nice to back some one in the group (7) INSIDER [T<=]

18 Next to undress — questions follow revelations (7) EXPOSES {nEXt}{POSES}

20 Lizard losing head in company of a furry animal (7) GUANACO {iGUANA}{CO}

22 Gets rid of bags filled with cork finally (5) SACKS {SAC{corK}S}

24 Sailing, generally (2,3,4) IN THE MAIN [DD]

26 Initially, no objection certificate to use radio not allowed late in the night (9) NOCTURNAL Acrostic

27 Speak for zero value (5) ORATE {O}{RATE}

28 I get a front man out breaking (13) FRAGMENTATION*

DOWN

2   Starts offering basic training — it's impolite to interfere (7) OBTRUDE {Of...g}{Ba..c}{Tr...g}{RUDE}

3   Experiences of active end user taking leave (9) UNDERGOES {END+USER}* over {GO}

4   Start off planting being in debt (5) OWING sOWING

5   Adorable, getting attention in conclusion (9) ENDEARING {END{EAR}ING}

6   Covered new roof within a day (5) AWNED {A}{NEW*}D} Roof as Anind? (Addendum - {A}{W{New}ED} - See comments)

7   Pounded back of head and massaged (7) DRUBBED {heaD}{RUBBED}

8   Usually no odd ones while dealing with a dip, say (5,8) SALAD DRESSING {uSuAlIy}{ADDRESSING}

9   Not even greying beard can be contrary to a radiation detector (6,7) GEIGER COUNTER {GrEyInG+bEaRd}{COUNTER}

15 New subject, without ignorance (9) NESCIENCE {NEw}SCIENCE}

17 "Room for suspicion", they say, when disoriented (6-3) S?A?E? O?T (Addendum - SPACED OUT {SPACE}{(~doubt)DOUT} - See comments)

19 Spectacular shot, showing no lust for a safety vehicle on track (4,3) PACE CAR  sPECtACulAR*

21 A bash over regular fashion makes one brave (7) ARAPAHO {A}{RAP}{fAsHiOn}

23 Suspended second breather (5) SLUNG {S}{LUNG}

25 Washroom — not one available for renting (2,3) TO LET TOiLET

Reference List

Work = OP, Time = T, Golf = G, With = W, Second = S