No 14876, Wednesday 19 Aug 2026, Incognito

Solution to 29A 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   Top revolutionary has a migraine, for example (8) HEADACHE {HEAD}{A}{CHE}

5   Spin one penny and get a vegetable (6) TURNIP {TURN}{1}{P}

10 I endlessly chill diced fruit (5) LICHI {I+CHILl}*

11 Hip bistro changes into bars (9) PROHIBITS*

12 Image broadcast around Romeo is an optical illusion (6) MIRAGE {MI{R}AGE*}

13 Having teeth, consumed after need developed, taking in a bit of toffee (8) EDENTATE {ATE}<=>{NEED*} over {To...e}

15 Item produced from night-break (5) THING*

17 Sailors are safer sailing near pole (9) SEAFARERS {ARE+SAFER}*{S}

19 Go in... Unwind tape and wrongly enter inside (9) PENETRATE {P{ENTER*}APE*}

20 Wrongly spike caps (5) KEPIS*

21 Exceptional sixth sense Alice developed (8) ESPECIAL {ESP}{ALICE*}

23 Cuts dried fruits (6) PRUNES [DD]

27 Funny procedure to give birth to offspring (9) REPRODUCE*

28 I mislaid Homer's poem (5) ILIAD {I}{LAID*}

29 Office worker of yore, sometimes working in a pool (6) T?P?S? 

30 Group with Frenchman gets disease (8) GANGRENE {GANG}{RENE}

DOWN

1   Delhi luminary has depression on organ (5) HILUM [T]

2   Musical instrument made from air conditioning wire with charged particle (9) ACCORDION {AC}{CORD}{ION}

3   Drink in silver container is getting old (5) AGING {A{GIN}G}

4   Jumps, removing books from bookshops (4) HOPS booksHOPS

6   Flag shown by sailor following workers' body (5,4) UNION JACK {JACK}<=>{UNION}

7   Iran destroyed a currency (5) NAIRA {IRAN*}{A}

8   Has sheriff's men starting to search extensively in ship (9) POSSESSES {POSSE}{Se...h}{S{Ex...y}S}

9   Best quality stuff from cracked pot with portrait maker (3-6) TOP-DRAWER {TOP}{DRAWER}

14 Plant sugar on return behind a health resort (9) ASPARAGUS {SUGAR<=}<=>{A}{SPA}

15 Highly classified stuff... privileged information to be kept under the hat? (3-6) TOP-SECRET {SECRET}<=>{TOP}

16 Manage to communicate, "Procure a crucifix" (3,6) GET ACROSS {GET A CROSS}

18 Dear, I've old writing instruments put together earlier (9) EXPENSIVE {IVE}<=>{EX}{PENS}

22 Remove insects from police pup and arrive unexpectedly (3-2) POP-UP {POlice+PUP}

24 Regretting madly returning without arrangement of rent (5) RUING RetUrnING

25 Slide around moving like a crab (5) SIDLE*

26 Letter from Tibet available (4) BETA [T]

Reference List

Revolutionary = CHE, Penny = P, Romeo = R, Ship = SS, Old = EX

No 14875, Tuesday 18 Aug 2026, Incognito

Solution to 26A 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

                                                       Standing-in for Colonel today 

 ACROSS

8 Lad returned with one artist (4) DALI {LAD<}{I}

9 Eggs warmed to some extent for group of insects (5) SWARM [T]
10 Bob leaves bamboos for prophet (4) AMOS {bAMboOS}

11 Admen injured and dead, creating want for goods (6) DEMAND {ADMEN*}{D}
12 Self-centred persons got sites redistributed (8) EGOTISTS*
13 New order of popes let legal prohibition (8) ESTOPPEL*
15 Coin forged by setter resulting in earning (6) INCOME {COIN*}{ME}
17 Sage //astronaut who left Earth on April 1st 2026 (7) WISEMAN [DD]

19 Picture American soldier having nice experience initially behind Indian Military Academy (7) IMAGINE {GI}{Nice}{Experience}<=>{IMA}
22 Charlie really likes spices (6) CLOVES {C}{LOVES}
24 Transliterated code term "Germ layer" (8) ECTODERM*
26 Once right in court, I composed musical pieces (8) ?O?C?R?I CONCERTI {C{ONCE+R}T}I See Comments
28 King from October onwards (6) OBERON [T]

30 This kind of stick can make you jumpy! (4) POGO [CD] 

31 Revolutionary's small game (5) CHESS {CHE'S}{S}
32 Remaining, relax! (4) REST [DD]

DOWN
1 Animal found in Chandigarh area (4) HARE [T]

2 Apron parking with erstwhile Indian army has fighter next to gate near first exit (8) PINAFORE {P}{INA}{F}{OR}{Exit}

3 Badly suppurated part removed and consumed fully (4,2) USED UP {SUPpUratED}
4 Inform a father, at first, 'It's part of the knee joint" (7) PATELLA {TELL}{A}<=>{PA}

5 Shop's premium cocktail contains a bit of orange (8) EMPORIUM {PREMIUM*} around {Orange}
6 Killer retires after mother becomes lunatic (6) MANIAC {CAIN<}<=>{MA}
7 Told off idiot (4) DOLT*
14 Yet // not moving (5) STILL [DD]
16 Roman building large house with estate (5) MANOR*

18 Remove // summary (8) ABSTRACT [DD]
20 Before horrible tragedy, girl made equipment (8) GADGETRY {TRAGEDY*}<=>{G}
21 Alien carried by rider on tour is no longer working (7) RETIRED {ET} in {RIDER*}
23 Directed force that is carrier of disease? (6) VECTOR [DD]
25 Belief in the Orient, "It's Mao reincarnated" (6) TAOISM*
27 Instrument carried by palaeobotanist on retirement (4) OBOE [HIPS<]
29 Oats processing kiln (4) OAST*

REFERENCE LIST

One=1=I, Dead=D, Setter=me, American Soldier=GI, Charlie=C, Right=R, Court=Ct, Small=S, Parking=P, Erstwhile Indian Army=INA, Fighter=F (military abbreviation as in F-16 fighter plane), Gate=Or ( Electronic gate), Father=Pa, Mother=Ma, Girl=G, Alien=ET(Extra Terrestrial).

No 14874, Monday 17 Aug 2026, Incognito

Solution to 22A 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   Criminal Job's gathering (11) CONVOCATION {CON}{VOCATION}

9   Without males and females... (5) WOMEN {WO}{MEN}

10 Crooked thing-a piece of golfing equipment- in place for entertainment (9) NIGHTCLUB {THING*}{CLUB}

11 Creature and monk falling into woodworking equipment (10) SALAMANDER {SA{LAMA}NDER}

12 Weapons from Mars destroyed (4) ARMS*

13 Practical joke from knight in park roundabout (5) PRANK {PRA{N}K*}

15 Poor vets travel and stay overnight (4,4) STOP OVER*

17 Rose awkwardly holding dress and strings of beads for prayer (8) ROSARIES {RO{SARI}ES*}

19 Yankee following Lord is before time (5) EARLY {Y}<=>{EARL}

22 What a snake might do in barn? (4) S?E? (Addendum - SHED [DD] - See comments)

23 Cleared tee by mistake? Slow down! (10) DECELERATE*

26 Author's poem is in Welsh residence (9) WODEHOUSE {W}{ODE}{HOUSE}

27 Perspired, removing pips and made mistake (5) ERRED pERspiRED

28 Learnt how I'm confused about spouse's mummy (6-2-3) MOTHER-IN-LAW*

DOWN

1   Biggles' plane, perhaps, arrived at port (5) CAMEL {CAME}{L}

2   Perhaps, Norse monk is not a cigar or cigarette user (3-6) NON-SMOKER*

3   Having title, wrongly won gin cocktail (6) OWNING*

4   Increase soldiers in month with initial threat (7) AUGMENT {AUG}{MEN}{Th...t}

5   A small quantity from Anzio tavern (4) IOTA [T]

6   African flower produced by Vernier travelling around '49 (4,5) NILE RIVER {VERNIER}* over {IL}

7   Admits, "Won wrongly by tailless cat when going back" (4,2) OWNS UP {NOW*}{PUSs<=}

8   Drug addict, perhaps, from a vehicle at Emergency Room (6) ABUSER {A}{BUS}{ER}

14 Dreamt SAM exploded in city (9) AMSTERDAM*

16 Baked food with church male is cut bit by bit (9) PIECEMEAL {PIE+CE+MALE}*

17 About female animal getting small plants once again (6) RESOWS {RE}{SOW}{S}

18 Sign and kill (7) EXECUTE [DD]

20 Returns damaged lid? Yes! (6) YIELDS*

21 Arabian, perhaps, one following enemy running away (6) YEMENI {1}<=>{ENEMY}*

24 A f-fight to get something to use with a bow (5) ARROW {A}{R-ROW}

25 Tea, I hear, followed tea in discussion (4) CHAT {(~tea)T}<=>{CHA}

Reference List

Without = WO, Knight = N, Yankee = Y, Welsh = W, Port = L, 49 = IL, Emergency Room = R, Church = CE, About = RE, Small = S

Special, Sunday 16 Aug 2026, Veeyares

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Grid will be updated with solutions after 8 PM.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 69, Sunday 16 Aug 2026, Arden

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

Please submit all your answers in one comment.

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Military orders to tolerate a ridicule (5,2,4) STAND AT EASE {STAND A TEASE}

7   First of all safety - and people undermine it (3) SAP Acrostic 

9   Middle name in a mix up - they provide early life cover (5) AMNIA {nAMe}{IN+A}*

10 Resistance to stop a film on murder - there's no shooting (9) ARMISTICE {A}{R}{MIST}{ICE}

11 With money, bank becomes more determined (9) DOUGHTIER {DOUGH}{TIER}

12 The bread winner brings it home... (5) BACON [CD]

13 ...and finally when the romantic ruler's getting amorous (7) NECKING {wheN}{thE}{r...iC}{KING}

15 Defy and force the ruffian (4) LOUT fLOUT

18 Plans over canned meat? (4) SPAM<=

20 Poet follows one as movement is slow (7) ANDANTE {DANTE}<=>{AN}

23 Daisy gets a stern warning to stay inside (5) ASTER [T]

24 New wine gets to head, shows unpleasantness (9) NASTINESS {N}{ASTI}{NESS}

26 Short course on drinking French wine in various regions (9) PROVINCES {PRO{VIN}CESs}

27 Come right inside the club (5) DRIVE {D{R}IVE}

28 Ultimately get to one digit (3) TOE Tail Acrostic

29 Dawdle around - days wasted finding top vegetable (5-6) LADYS FINGER {L{DAYS*}{Fi...g}INGER}

DOWN

1   School can make an impression while growing up (8) SCANDENT {S}{CAN}{DENT}

2   Declare the girl is overweight (8) ANNOUNCE {ANN}{OUNCE}

3   Inside a thing at the end (5) DEATH [T]

4   Making fun of a drink with Carol (7) TEASING {TEA}{SING}

5   A young man crossed over the border, returned with top officer (7) ADMIRAL {A} with {LA{RIM}D}<=

6   Oriental shock involving billions - going to China? (9) EASTBOUND {E}{AST{B}OUND}

7   Partners lie on long grass (6) SNITCH {S}{N}{ITCH}

8   Praises break up involving a sweetheart (6) PAEANS {SNAP<=} over {A}{swEet}

14 Justme with broken Tamil, about average (9) IMPARTIAL {I}{M{PAR}TIAL*}

16 The ruler, having born before '50 is praying (8) KNEELING {K{NEE}{L}ING}

17 Males promise merchandise for a haberdashery (8) MENSWEAR {MEN}{SWEAR}

19 Threatened people, one died later (7) MENACED {MEN}{ACE}{D}

20 Helps musicians to leave Britain (7) ASSISTS bASSISTS

21 Castigate for reviewing some of the corporate practices (6) CARPET [T<=]

22 Set to go out- no time for an underling (6) STOOGE {SEt+TO+GO}*

25 Tinned fruit picked regularly for a lemur (5) INDRI {tInNeD+fRuIt}

Reference List

Resistance = R, Force = F, New = N, Head = NESS, French wine = VIN, Right = R, School = S, Oriental = E, Billions = B, Partners = N,S, Born = NEE< 50 = L, Died = D, Britain = B, Time = T

No 14873, Saturday 15 Aug 2026, KrisKross

                                                   Happy Independence Day

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS 

1 Not on time... gets missed by the audience (8) OFFSTAGE {OFF}{STAGE}
5 Under pressure, judge acted badly, losing head (6) JAMMED {J}{hAMMED}
9 Slippery end of rink — falling every so often, called for vehicle (8) TRICYCLE {TRICkY}{CaLlEd}

10 Farewells in America break down you and me (6) ADIEUS {A}{DIE}{US}
12 I get a note: "Fantastic bargain!" (9) NEGOTIATE*
13 Determined to follow old scent (5) ODOUR DOUR<=>O
14 Spots uneven roads, ultimately rough (4) RASH {RoAdS}{rougH}
16 Sausages from small joints, reportedly (7) WIENIES (~WEE KNEES)
19 Refuse to accept "Anyway, it's fate!" (7) DESTINY {DENY} around {IT'S*}
21 Picked up dress accessory from Asia (4) THAI {~TIE}
24 Storage device basically containing digital recordings of music (2-3) CD-ROM [Acrostic]
25 Contracting a boy on a horse to tour Germany (9) ABRIDGING {A}{B}{RID{G}ING}
27 Heavyweight group without work building muscle (6) TONING {TON}{wING}
28 Spooner says "Save American sculptor — she is critical!" (8) LINCHPIN Spoonerism of PINCH LIN
29 Slanders brands winning millions (5) SMEARS {S{M}EARS}
30 Like a fox eating English fruit in a calm manner (6) SEDATELY {S{E}{DATE}LY}

DOWN
1 Carbon that oddly is included in a component of petrol (6) OCTANE {C}{ThAt} in ONE
2 Daughter crushed by grief breaking down, becoming cooler (6) FRIDGE {D} in {GRIEF*}
3 Go with sweetheart on vacation for a rendezvous (5) TRYST {TRY}{SweethearT}
4 Giant dog in corner rising up (7) GOLIATH  {TAIL<} in {HOG<}
6 Moving drama — one involving Dutch stars (9) ANDROMEDA {DRAMA ONE}* around D

7 Electronic device having new sign about boosting memory (8) MNEMONIC {MIC}around {N+OMEN}<
8 Sorrow as lover spends money for diamonds (8) DISTRESS (-m+D)DISTRESS
11 Catcall from back of courtroom upset trial! (4) MEOW {courtrooM}{WOE<}
15 Part of Turkey — an old country surrounded by soldiers (4,5) ASIA MINOR {A}{SIAM}{IN}{OR} surrounded by=in
17 Teaches upwardly mobile date about old gold coin (8) EDUCATES {SEE<} around {DUCAT}
18 Members in contest ran, getting split up (8) ESTRANGE [T]
20 You hadn't regularly lost money in Shanghai (4) YUAN {YoU hAdNt}

21 Wrong to stuff fork in meat dish (7) TERRINE {ERR} in {TINE}

22 Easy test with "India" as answer (6) SIMPLE {S(-a+I)IMPLE}
23 A hundred years to gather knowledge for department (6) AGENCY {A}{GEN}{C}{Y}
26 In Stalingrad, a charming cottage (5) DACHA [T]

REFERENCE LIST

Judge=J, America=A, Old=O, Boy=B, Germany=G, Work=W, Millions=M, English=E, Carbon=C, Daughter=D, Dutch=D, New=N, Money=M, Diamonds=D, Soldiers=OR, India=I, Answer=A, Hundred=C, Years=Y.

No 14872, Friday 14 Aug 2026, Bruno

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Quivering in shame, Duke leaving kingdom's edge with disgrace (10) DEHUMANISE {IN+SHAME+DUkE}*

6   Send out instructions to eliminate radical (4) EMIT rEMIT

9   Government funding money to have artificial intelligence controlled by August (5-2-3) GRANT-IN-AID {GRAN{TIN}{AI}D}

10 Take time out, impress one's leader, repeat (4) ECHO {EtCH}{One}

12 On TV, fake host mixed up speech (4,2,6) VOTE OF THANKS*

15 Credit lacking, one's cut bread (7) CROUTON {CR}{OUT}{ONe}

16 Labourer cycled lots over a road (7) YARDMAN {(+y)YMAN(-y)} over {A}{RD}

17 Treatment of Islamic sect reflects America's political heart (7) SHIATSU {SHIA} with {US}{p..iTi..l}<=

19 Evolving from Neanderthal basically, and going up (7) NASCENT {Ne...l}{ASCENT}

20 Feverish mood in Tonga's capital city (5,7)  SANTO DOMINGO*

23 Leader pulled out younger pitcher (4) EWER nEWER

24 Setter shops here? (4,6) HIGH STREET {SETTER}* [RA]

25 Undistinguished piece from Bruno — so swiftly retracted (2-2) SO-SO [T<=]

26 Feature of trending site — regularly encrypted (10)  INGREDIENT {TRENDING+sItE}*

DOWN

1   Likes archaeological sites (4) DIGS [DD]

2   Most popular American guitar's a joke (4) HOAX {HOt}{AX}

3   Setter's type returning over time to country, avoiding new place that's usually crowded (5,7) METRO STATION {ME}{SORT<=}{T}{nATION}

4   Grandma's enthusiastic for fabric (7) NANKEEN {NAN}{KEEN}

5   A robot moves like this — with rampant convulsions when touched by an insect (7) STIFFLY {FITS<=}{FLY}

7   One showing high speed's paralysed, taken to emergency room after time out in game (4,6) MACH NUMBER {NUMB}{ER}<=>{MAtCH}

8   Lowly ranked bureaucrat finally gets abridged accommodation with half bath (10) THOUSANDTH {b...aT}{HOUSe}{AND}{baTH}

11 Alas! Boy's deficient at the top and unable to make wise decisions (5-7) SHORT-SIGHTED {SIGH}{TED}<=>{SHORT}

13 Bottom of tree roots sheltering warm communities of living things (10) ECOSYSTEMS {treE}{COSY}{STEMS}

14 It rotates in dark, becoming still (10) MOTIONLESS {MO{IT<=}ONLESS}

18 Excellent reputations need to be managed without rest, perhaps (7) UTOPIAN {rePUtATIONs}*

19 One entering underground with no option (7) NEITHER {NE{1}THER}

21 Used to be husband... became wife now (4) WERE (-h+w)WERE

22 Don't change systems stripped over time (4) STET {sySTEms}{T}

Reference List

Radical = R, Money = TIN, Time = T, Credit = CR, Road = RD, Husband = H, Wife = W

No 14871, Thursday 13 Aug 2026, Arden

Solution to 2D 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   Such a number is a contradiction — any way you look at it (5,3,2,4) NEVER ODD OR EVEN <=>

10 Old lot rejected praise (5) EXTOL {EX}{LOT<=}

11 Visit to observe things first hand and make landfall (5,4) FIELD TRIP {FIELD}{TRIP}

12 Hog on surplus, not to be returned (7) GLUTTON {GLUT}{NOT<=}

13 It's iced rum which is most unpredictable (7) DICIEST*

14 Drive over dead animal (5) ELAND {ELAN}{D}

16 Love to read part of a review at a roman institution (9) INAMORATA [T<=]

19 Plant to look intelligent (9) EYEBRIGHT {EYE}{BRIGHT}

20 Well chosen land (5) SPAIN {SPA}{IN}

22 Increasing current passing through the coil (7) RAMPING {R{AMP}ING}

25 A worker getting angry about firm (7) ADAMANT {A}{MAD<=}{ANT}

27 Unfortunately, Hindus get blinded (9) UNSIGHTED*

28 Some return from Newcastle to Hedley to find accommodation (5) HOTEL [T<=]

29 Our fearsome dog barking as well (3,4,7) FOR GOOD MEASURE* 

DOWN

2   Engage half heartedly to accommodate travel companions (9) E?T?U?A?E (Addendum - ENTOURAGE {EN(-g+tour)TOURAGE} - See Comments)

3   Confidence shown amid all the clatter (5) ECLAT [T]

4   Being rude is bad conclusion (9) OFFENDING {OFF}{ENDING}

5   Fear of death before scan (5) DREAD {D}{READ}

6   They wrote proclamations which embarrassed the cast (9) REDACTORS {RED}{ACTORS}

7   Engine driver set to keep within the lines (5) VERSE [T]

8   Rising prospect of hard hat perhaps finding a fraction of crude oil (7) NAPHTHA {PAN<=}{H}{HAT*}

9   Outstanding protection for English disease (6) DENGUE {D{ENG}UE}

15 Audacity of the Democratic party to go about making mistakes (7-2) DERRING-DO {D}{DO} over {ERRING}

17 Twinkling star will confuse on how to ride a horse (9) ASTRADDLE {STAR*}{ADDLE}

18 Destroy area, blast the stone (9) ALABASTER* 

19 Uniform force inside frame made to protect against cold and noise (7) EARMUFF {U}{F} in {FRAME}*

21 Outsiders narrate that line in anger (6) NETTLE {Na...tE}{ThaT}{LinE}

23 Tight-fisted gentleman is wasting time (5) MISER MIStER

24 To end it all, camping area not safe and enclosed (5) GATED Tail Acrostic

26 Jack embraces, he remains (5) ASHES {AS{HE}S}

Reference List

Old = EX, Dead = D, Chosen = IN, Death = D, Prospect = PAN, Hard = H, Democratic = D, Party = DO, Uniform = U, Force = F, Time = T

No 14870, Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, Arden

Solution to 26A 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   Fools stay home, he takes them out (8) ASSASSIN {ASS}{ASS}{IN}

5   Even America is all gas (6) FLATUS {FLAT}{US}

10 Organic material around here in the centre is bone (7) HUMERUS {HUM{hERe}US}

middle — could also be a starter (7) RAVIOLI {dRAVId}{sOLId}

12 Woman or man in the opera (5) NORMA [T]

13 Downturn with fish diminishing (9) DWINDLING {D}{WIND}{LING}

14 "Press 4", most of them say (6,6) FOURTH ESTATE {FOUR}{THEm}{STATE}

18 Chester Allen cooked mushrooms (12) CHANTERELLES*

21 It may follow Bobby on duty (6,3) POLICE DOG {DOG}<=>{POLICE} Semi&lit

23 Change by shuffling at the top in the future (5) ALTER (L<=>A}ALTER

24 Tear off layer of mud (7) EARTHEN {TEAR*}{HEN}

25 Do second language from first grade (7) SHINDIG {S}{HINDI}{Gr..e}

26 Ring in place, digging out the odd bits (6) S?G?E?  (Addendum - SIGNET {S{dIgGiNg}ET} - See comments)

27 It receives a call for help like by day's end showing geological balance (8) ISOSTASY {I{SOS}T}{AS}{daY}

DOWN

1   Since then, invested the capital (6) ATHENS {A{THEN}S}

2   Doctor punctures boil, it's serious (6) SOMBRE {SO{MB}RE}

3   Go through and through the tap — it's open (6,3) SPREAD OUT {SP{READ}OUT}

4   Home team call to cover shoot up is illegal (7,7) INSIDER TRADING {IN}{SIDE}{R{DART<=}ING}

6   Place 4 in sealed cover and cross (5) LIVID {L{IV}ID}

7   Left uprising — Indian state is hot and humid (8) TROPICAL {PORT<=}{I}{CAL}

8   Rash with ones hard to go through (8) SHINGLES {S{H}INGLES}

9   Gold and tin brought up by lifts — keeping record of those who study birds (14) ORNITHOLOGISTS {OR}{TIN<=}{HO{LOG}ISTS}

15 Plots scores in a random fashion (9) SCENARIOS*

16 Drains for meals eaten cold (8) SCUPPERS {S{C}UPPERS}

17 Cow to crow about accomplice (8) BALLYRAG {B{ALLY}RAG}

19 Somehow assimilated but miles away from grounds (6) STADIA ASsImilATsD*

20 Scream over a horse that's ragged (6) CRAGGY {CR{A}{GG}Y}

22 Fish for business turn over (5) COHOE {CO}{HOE}

Reference List

Home = IN, Down = D, Second = S, Doctor = MB, Indian = I, Hard = H, Cold = C, Horse = GG, Business = CO

No 14869, Tuesday 11 Aug 2026, Arden

Solution to 21D 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   Run over chasing main pirate (3,4) SEA WOLF {FLOW<=}<=>{SEA}

5   Ran around carrying oil through a cloud of gas and dust (7) NEBULAR {RA{LUBE}N}<= Wordplay leads to {RAN<=} over {LUBE}

9   In the plan aims to accommodate a verandah (5) LANAI [T]

10 On record it is a complaint (9) ENTERITIS {ENTER}{IT}{IS}

11 In an extremely wretched way, getting through with modest investment in a year (9) ABYSMALLY {BY}{SMALL} in {A}{Y} 

12 Panic on seeing some of these figures (5) ICONS [T]

13 Reward if leader goes for duty (4) ONUS bONUS

15 Worries about touring team's ID badges (4,4) NAME TAGS {N{TEAM*}AGS}

18 Passionate check over macho males (8) VEHEMENT {VE{HE MEN}T}

19 Animal brought back in a rush (4) REED<=

22 True male specialty (5) REALM {REAL}{M}

24 Sadness on coping with any misbehaviour (9) POIGNANCY {COPING+ANY}*

26 Original art, new nation follows American actor (9) TARANTINO {ART*}{NATION*}

27 Love putting our middle name in front (5) AMOUR {OUR}<=>{nAMe}

28 Sunday worship helps farmers (7) SPRAYER {S}{PRAYER}

29 Refuse to return and receive attention one longed for (7) YEARNED {DENY<=} over {EAR}

DOWN

1   Extremely scary, left in front amid all the trees (6) SYLVAN {ScarY}{L}{VAN}

2   Anyone can get agitated and show displeasure (9) ANNOYANCE*

3   Number starts with one — payment is usually monthly (5) OPIUM Acrostic

4   Independent cover up inland (9) FREELANCE {FR{LEE<=}ANCE}

5   Trendy Times in denial (5) NATTY {NA{T}{T}Y}

6   Counsel picks up knight in exchange (9) BARRISTER {BAR{SIR<=}TER}

7   Besotted bachelor goes for a game of chance (5) LOTTO bLOTTO

8   Counter is found among others (6) RESIST {RES{IS}T}

14 First thing needed for business growth (4,5) SEED MONEY [CD]

16 Many houses fit only for marriage (9) MATRIMONY {MA{TRIM}{O}NY}

17 Party with Trump as an apprentice (9) GREENHORN {GREEN}{HORN}

20 Bottom string for instrument picked up for free (6) GRATIS {s...nG}{SITAR<=}

21 Happy birthday, missing at compound (6) ?Y?R?D ()

23 Dry outside on the clothesline (5) AIRER {AI{RE}R}

24 He assisted the abbot earlier (5) PRIOR [DD]

25 In Tuscany, a large animal is found (5) NYALA [T]

Reference List

Year = Y, Male = M, Sunday = S, Left = L, in front = VAN, Time = T, Bachelor = B, Only = O, On = RE