No 14786, Wednesday 06 May 2026, Incognito

Solution to 5D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Brave warrior and biblical king gives away diamonds (4) HERO HEROd

9   7 confused about eastern ruler (5) AMEER {MARE}* over {E}

10 But a hill may be covering a state (4) UTAH [T]

11 Space agency covering southern university in Caribbean city (6) NASSAU {NAS{S}A}{U}

12 Father stole and got uncontrollable anxiety (8) PANICKED {PA}{NICKED}

13 We swarm excitedly around one in Bikini, for example (8) SWIMWEAR {WE+SWARM}* over {1}

15 Complete International Law (6) INTACT {INT}{ACT}

17 Elongate time (7) STRETCH [DD]

19 & 25 A railway guard, for example - he may spill the beans (7,6) WHISTLE BLOWER [DD]

22 Dr Bali travelling for marriage ritual (6) BRIDAL*

24 Walking around Malta, bun is cut into pieces (8) AMBULANT*

26 Permit giver modifying silencer (8) LICENSER*

28 Father crushed almond (3,3) OLD MAN*

30 Removing asp from topsail is hard work (4) TOIL TOpsaIL

31 Sharp mountain ridge in Delaware territory (5) ARETE [T]

32 Mad sociopath giving up chops? It's a very small quantity... (4) IOTA sOcIopATh*

DOWN

1   Wager on a Greek letter (4) BETA {BET}{A}

2   Criminal near river produces soup (8) CONSOMME {CON}{SOMME}

3   A bund constructed on East River (6) DANUBE {A+BUND}*{E}

4   Penny replaced model in gymnast's dress and spotted animal (7) LEOPARD LEO(+p-t)PARD

5   Threateningly wave seed covering on plate, for example (8) ?R?N?I?H (Addendum - BRANDISH {BRAN}{DISH} - See comments)

6   Sum up: "Animal in city" (6) MUSCAT {SUM<=}{CAT}

7   Animal from Srikakulam area (4) MARE [T]

14 & 21 Say, Gunga Din or Aquarius? (5,7) WATER CARRIER [DD]

16 Two spots, one below the other, in part of intestine (5) COLON (:) Rebus

18 Huge deficit in lignite, for example (8) COLOSSAL {CO{LOSS}AL}

20 Dressing a boy covered in earth (5,3) SALAD OIL {S{A}{LAD}OIL}

21 See 14

23 Lives and starts to dig sumps around source of water (6) DWELLS {Dig}{WELL}{Su..s}

25 See 19 Across 

27 Metal found in Adirondack (4) IRON [HIPS]

29 Bet mountain can be upside down (4) ANTE<=

Reference List

Diamonds = D, Eastern = E, Southern = S, University = U, East = E, Penny = P, Model = T

No 14785, Tuesday 05 May 2026, Incognito

Solution to 26A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Cost of travel in Cardiff area (4) FARE [T]

9   Mercury obtained from Arizona hotel construction after the Spanish left (5) AZOTH {AZ}{HOTel}*

10 Extraordinary risk irritates (4) IRKS*

11 Literary king with book came to know (6) LEARNT {LEAR}{NT}

12 Rival's pop nonet composition (8) OPPONENT*

13 Deserter from Army Post Office, say (8) APOSTATE {APO}{STATE}

15 Horrible diatribe on losing inspection bungalow, in short, is a verbal attack (6) TIRADE {DiATRIbE}*

17 Traverses tomb markers (7) CROSSES [DD]

19 Arranged pack with xenon containing one tool (7) PICKAXE {PACK}*{XE} over {1}

22 Ma cuts hybrid grape (6) MUSCAT*

24 Finished after Army Service Corps climbed (8) ASCENDED {ENDED}<=>{ASC}

26 Perhaps, heel's weapon? (8) ?T?L?T?O (Addendum - STILETTO [DD] - See comments)

28 Where a group of swimmers may study? (6) SCHOOL [C&DD]

30 Ship from Karwar goes (4) ARGO [T]

31 Rub off Times emblem in the beginning (5) ERASE {ERAS}{Em...m}

32 Type of house built without using aluminium in Salem, India (4) SEMI {SalEM}{I}

DOWN

1   Uncommon in Almora region (4) RARE [T]

2   Thaws forests being chopped up after beginning of December (8) DEFROSTS {FORESTS}*<=>{De...r}

3   Rule: "No pets in apartments under renovation" (6) MANTRA {ApARTMeNts}*

4   One behind Line of Control rejected final call for military officer (7) COLONEL {ONE}<=>{LOC<=} and {calL}

5   Indian bread got from guy at the inn initially (8) CHAPATTI {CHAP}{AT}{The}{Inn}

6   Meal given by doctor around nine decomposed (6) DINNER {D{NINE*}R}

7   Hide runner at end of garden (4) SKIN {SKI}{g...eN}

14 Hidden and concealed in sniper duty (5) PERDU [T] &lit

16 Pass away, having taken 9 in custody, in Southern US (5) DIXIE {D{IX}IE}

18 Extraordinary Lent diet is allowed (8) ENTITLED*

20 Relative has toured South African city (8) KINSHASA {KIN}{HAS}*{SA}

21 Ass walks around a vessel to get fruits (7) SAPOTAS {S{A}{POT}AS*}

23 Visit part of Calcutta before part of London (4,2) CALL ON {CALc...a}{LONdon}

25 We returned with money for nut (6) CASHEW {WE<=}<=>{CASH}

27 Conservative's attempt to consume egg (4) TORY {T{O}RY}

29 Units of Resistance from Head Office rejected manuscript (4) OHMS {HO<=}{MS}

Reference List

The in Spanish = EL, Book = NT(New Testament), Line of Control = LOC, Manuscript = MS