No 14818, Friday 12 Jun 2026, Afterdark

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.

ACROSS

1   Understanding layers in microphone design without echos essentially (13)

10 A strategy to suppress rule in continent (9)

11 Captains of Australia, Rhodesia, England, New Zealand, Afghanistan in the ground (5)

12 Dodge is electric vehicle? Commercial enunciates at the beginning (5)

13 Irish band finishes early to welcome associate (9)

14 Start to drink noisily at a distance (3,3)

16 Say, David the English filmmaker is at bank (4)

19 Smile at crush almost (4)

20 Master's knowledge is beyond the peak of Ultar (6)

25 I have little time before and after theatre work that is crucial (9)

26 Broadcast on good man's step (5)

27 Next ration will include bonus (5)

28 Deport 27 dissenters in the beginning and fifteen regularly (9)

29 Say, yellow lorry (car) transporting opium stash (7,6)

DOWN

2   Old-fashioned girlfriend's behind forbidden drugs primarily (8)

3   Tomato pulp is unadulterated at Spain (5)

4   Draw in second test, Mark avoids duck (6)

5   Licence issued to arrest leader of rioting crowd (8)

6   Trisha redrew square in the second half with free program (9)

7   Traffic system at the circle's new, absent by end of Sunday (3-3)

8   Complaint on poor book (6)

9   In part, prelate reached following (5)

15 Gangster holstering gun, say with safety device (4,5)

17 England has a new Eastern European rival starting to manipulate (8)

18 Panchatantiram is under wraps? Sweet (8)

21 Ship passes over lake on course (6)

22 Head Office order extremely empty and rubbish (5)

23 Man caught by heartless officer who is a bully (6)

24 Poisoned primarily clueless doubter (6)

26 Ashley Cole, first and last to be sacked by confused Arsenal in a tangle (5)

No 14817, Thursday 11 Jun 2026, KrisKross

Solution to 12A 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

1   Chemist's quick to wrap wound (8) PHARMACY {P{HARM}ACY}

5   Reportedly delivers heavy woollen fabric (6) FRIEZE (~frees)

9 &13 They are used to revive sailors with BO? (8,5) SMELLING SALTS {SALTS}<=>{SMELLING}

10 It can hold breakfast food for one - greasy pot originally lined with copper (6) EGGCUP {EG}{Gr...y}{CU}{Pot}

12 Opponents try drills. Many give up (4,5) L?S? H?A?T (Addendum - LOSE HEART - {LO{S,E{HEAR}T}See comments)

13 See 9A

14 Top trends in poems (4) ODES {mODES}

16 Temple town's function for a zealot (7) PURITAN {PURI}{TAN}

19 Obscure quotations seen in memes regularly (7) ECLIPSE {mE{CLIPS}mEs}

21 Panel changing sides in a month (4) JURY JU(-l+r)RY

24 Country's popular face left out (5) INDIA {IN}{DIAl}

25 Pin ads around a flyer (9) SAND PIPER {PIN+ADS}*{PER}

27 AI software not opening novel - it's an irritating problem (6) IRITIS {sIRI}{ITS*}

28 Primarily many people excited in arena, resulting in this? (8) STAMPEDE {STA{Many}{Pe...e}{Ex...d}DE} Semi&lit

29 One suffering hurt before try-out (6) MARTYR {MAR}{TRY*}

30 Woman is pinched by spoilt kid, most rude (8) BRASHEST   {BRA{SHE'S}T}

DOWN

1   Step dancing with extremely lovable crush (6) PESTLE {STEP*}{Lo...lE}

2   Doctored images revealing bias (6) AGEISM* 

3   Enrich soil greatly, taking in fertilisers essentially (5) MULCH {MU{f...iLi...s}CH}

4   Dismiss very stupid person in campaign (7) CANVASS {CAN}{V}{ASS}

6   Administrator is back, charged with direction to rule (9) REGISTRAR {R{E{GIST}RA<=}{R}Anno not clear (Addendum - {RE{GIST}{R}AR} - See comments)

7   Intensify police case, missing deadline (8) ESCALATE {CASE*}{LATE}

8   Showing ten pigeons flying all around (8) EXPOSING {E{X}POSING*}

11 Break small plaything (4) STOP {S}{TOP}

15 Evil God filled with power, chiefly crazy (9) DEPRAVITY {DE{PR}{crAzy}}ITY} (Correction - {DE{P}{RAVe}ITY} - See comments)

17 Idle vagrant, a bit intoxicated, overwhelmed by strange fever (8) DELIRIUM {IDLE*}{R{In...d}UM}

18 Glue dries for the most part, turning more muddy Glue mostly dries turning more muddy (8) SLUDGIER {GLUe+DRIES}*

20 Some require a strategic direction (4) EAST [T]

21 After a month, bread counter becomes cleaner (7) JANITOR {JAN}{ROTI<=}

22 Ball's area (6) SPHERE [DD]

23 Tune with hint of romance… girl starts crying (6) URGENT {TUNE+Ro...e+G}*

26 American uncle excited about cats (5) PUMAS {SAM}{UP}<=

Reference List

Opponents = S,E(South and East in Bridge card game), Function = TAN, Popular = IN, Very = V, Rule = R, Small = S, American uncle = SAM

No 14816, Wednesday 10 Jun 2026, Incognito

Solution to 8A 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   Male took in conjugal partner (4) ?A?E (Addendum - MATE {M}{ATE} - See comments)

9   Asset that could be pieces of furniture (5) SEATS*

10 Part of church collapses to some extent (4) APSE [HIPS]

11 Who had changed seating equipment mounted on elephant? (6) HOWDAH*

12 Siblings, perhaps, trouble school head around start of recess (8) BROTHERS {B{Re...s}OTHER}{Sc...l}

13 Analysing quantity of arsenic, for example, in groundwater at first (8) ASSAYING {AS}{SAY}{IN}{Gr...r}

15 Ladies restated expected standards (6) IDEALS*

17 Check manufacture of pectins (7) INSPECT*

19/22 Old weapon found in Shakespearean plays (7,6) ANCIENT PISTOL {ANCIENT}{PISTOL}

24 Driving in absence of medico, following a Rolls Royce and coming (8) ARRIVING {drIVING}<=>{A}{RR}

26 Spotted animals tearing her pants (8) PANTHERS*

28 Stick electrical component (6) SWITCH [DD]

30 What a golfer might shout from a wooded area after losing some time initially? (4) FORE FOREst

31 Other actors seem to be deaf to this kind of dialogue (5) ASIDE [CD]

32 Warmth in the theatre (4) HEAT [HIPS]

DOWN

1   Destruction of shale oil after leaving isle produces ring of light (4) HALO {sHAle+OiL}*

2   Excitedly help Adam to get illumination for biker, for example (8) HEADLAMP*

3   It's him wandering around tombolos, for example (6) ISTHMI*

4   Vegetable produced by a couple of boys in Co-op (7) CABBAGE {C{A}{BB}AGE}

5   Stone thrown by Scotsman and North European (8) ESTONIAN {STONE*}{IAN}

6   Horrible shame! Purloining one golf club! (6) MASHIE {MASH{1}E*}

7   Employer's devious ruse (4) USER*

14 Transgression at top-class peninsula (5) SINAI {SIN}{A1}

16 Leader left 9 on return (5) LENIN {L}{NINE<=}

18 Sal cared about collapsed magma chambers (8) CALDERAS*

20 Iodine and vanadium found in damaged hinges and rails (8) INVEIGHS {I}{N{V}EIGHS*}

21 Legal action arising from bad awl and spades, for example (7) LAWSUIT {AWL*}{SUIT}

23 Tie broken teeth at beginning of ritual (6) TETHER {TEETH*}{Ri...l}

25 Duty schedule from hero's terrible (6) ROSTER [T]

27 Ace spinner on the summit (4) ATOP {A}{TOP}

29 Cove between last part of beach and a part of port (4)  CHAP {beaCH}{A}{Port}

Reference List

Male = M, Boys = B, Left = L, Ace = A

No 14815, Tuesday 09 Jun 2026, Incognito

Solution to 18D 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   Music composer from Korba, Chhattisgarh (4) BACH [T]

9   Spanish mission that serves as a reminder of Texas Revolution in Mambalam office (5) ALAMO [T]

10 Egyptian goddess is going around South Island (4) ISIS {I{S}{I}S}

11 Shoot covers new season (6) SPRING {SPRI{N}G}

12 Getting tailless dog in south eastern corral (8) SECURING {SE}{CUr}{RING}

13 Hit wound violently in suspense story (8) WHODUNIT*

15 Get dressed, perhaps, and be Nero, fiddling... (6) ENROBE*

17 Most crazy to get a Chinese body part (7) STOMACH {MOST*}{A}{CH}

19 What a groom might get for painting once again? (3,4) NEW COAT [DD]

22 Marshal Omar carries word of peace (6) SHALOM [T]

24 So diesel may be converted into sources of cooking fat (8) OILSEEDS*

26 Person carrying one's moniker, but may be unrelated (8) NAMESAKE [CD]

28 Once saucy ace (6) EXPERT {EX}{PERT}

30 Neurologist possesses some continental currency (4) EURO [HIPS]

31 Street commonly mentioned by Perry Mason in model law (5) DELLA [T]

32 Place to buy half-shorts with Papa (4) SHOP {SHOrts}{P}

DOWN

1   Moist place to store water on top of pitcher (4) DAMP {DAM}{Pi...r}

2   OK, dimes are scattered around hotel in Arab chief's territory (8) SHEIKDOM {OK+DIMES}* over {H}

3   Gross profit from liquor after March, in short (6) MARGIN {GIN}{<=>{MARch}

4   King leaves baskets for son's dogs (7) BASSETS BAS(-k+s)SETS

5   Criminal on island produces building material (8) CONCRETE {CON}{CRETE}

6   One may reflect... MOM or MUM looks the same in this (6) MIRROR [DBE]

7   Logo in the heart of designer (4) SIGN [HIPS]

14 Jerk's tenure in America (5) HITCH [DD]

16 Snake on road panel (5) BOARD {BOA}{RD}

18 Orders, with new note on first of September (8) C?M?A?D? (Addendum - COMMANDS {COMMA}{N}{D}{Se...r} - See comments)

20 Least expensive animal in box (8) CHEAPEST {CHE{APE}ST}

21 Announcement made by tennis referee at beginning of match between belligerent players (4,3) LOVE ALL [CD]

23 Tell untruth before owl flies and go underground, perhaps (3,3) LIE LOW {LIE}{OWL*}

25 General method to get elbow room (6) LEEWAY {LEE}{WAY}

27 Be next to rejected musical instrument (4) ABUT<=

29 Moor is back in space (4) ROOM<=

Reference List

South = S, Island = I, New = N, South Eastern = SE, Chinese = CH, Papa = P, Hotel = H, King = K, Son = S, Road = RD, Note = D

No 14814, Monday 08 Jun 2026, Incognito

Solution to 10A 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

1   Local going after vehicle on highway from London to Leeds? It can lead to reduction in gas (11) CARMINATIVE {NATIVE}<=>{CAR}{M1}

9   Wife leaves lawyer's coat (5) LAYER LAwYER

10 Grand proposal to install gas lines to every house is fanciful thinking (4,5) P?P? D?E?M (Addendum - PIPE DREAM [C&DD] - See comments)

11 American consuming sodium first? Disgusting! (10) NAUSEATING {US}{EATING}<=>{NA}

12 Money held by masseur obtained (4) EURO [T]

13 Cut off from Chris Evert (5) SEVER {T]

15 Warped space on 1st for wool gatherer (8) ESCAPIST {SPACE}*{1ST}

17 Following friend, on this day, turning into a follower of an Oriental faith (8) BUDDHIST {BUD}{THIS+D}*

19 Pertaining to quality of sound arising from ventilator after losing rivet (5) TONAL {veNtiLATOr}*

22 Gas used in Cochrane, Ontario (4) NEON [T]

23 A kind of presentation for electrical socket (5,5) POWER POINT [DD]

26 So, large things are thrown with this (9) SLINGSHOT {SO+L+THINGS}* Semi&lit

27 Son has fun returning female's ground tobacco (5) SNUFF {S}{FUN<=}{F}

28 Point carton out to get device (11) CONTRAPTION*

DOWN

1   Rodent is shy at first, perhaps unsettled, for starters (5) COYPU {COY}{Pe...s}{Un...d}  

2   Are rather confused about metal not available in pure form in nature (4,5) RARE EARTH*

3   Start to produce units manufactured to make feedstocks (6) INPUTS {Pr...e+UNITS}*

4   Adds, "Badly snapped" (7) APPENDS*

5   Indian and Yankee in a motor sport (4) INDY {IND}{Y}

6   Entice ox running around university for performance (9) EXECUTION {ENTICE+OX}* over {U}

7   Throws fine fish on top of salver (6) FLINGS {F}{LING}{Sa...r}

8   Meaning: One drink, after commencement of May (6) IMPORT {1}{PORT}<=>{May}

14 Cod dives strangely consuming current media storage device (5,4) VIDEO DISC {COD+DIVES}* over {I}

16 A new advice: With Italian wine, for starters (9) ANTIPASTI {A}{N}{TIP}{ASTI}

17 In absence of war, brainwash distraught and exile (6) BANISH {BraINwASH}*

18 After school, parent gets choke (7) SMOTHER {S}{MOTHER}

20 The French aristocrat is pardoned (3,3) LET OFF {LE}{TOFF}

21 Rose, you and I punt badly (4,2) WENT UP {WE}{PUNT}*

24 Put in vase and badly ruin before noon (5) INURN {RUIN}*{N}

25 Against rebellious Anglican leaving clan (4) AGIN ANGlIcan*

Reference List

Wife = W, Day = D, Large = L, Son = S, Female = F, Yankee = Y, University = U, Fine = F, Current = I, New = N, School = S, The in French = LE, Noon = N

Special, Sunday 07 Jun 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)

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 59, Sunday 07 Jun 2026, Incognito

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

8   Power source in penitentiary (4) CELL [DD]

9   Love chasm that is egg shaped (5) OVOID {0}{VOID}

10 Cry at sea, perhaps, in Idaho yacht (4) AHOY [T]

11 Plane flying north carrying European (6) HORNET {HORN{E}T*}

12 Paddy, for example, for Hibernian (8) IRISHMAN {IRISH MAN}

13 At 10, Tod is confused... Look after... (6,2) ATTEND TO {AT}{TEN}{TOD*}

15 Bantu jumped around end of counter and produced headgear (6) TURBAN {TU{c...eR}BAN*}

17 Drop down, from bus reversing, at bank (7) SUBSIDE {BUS<=}{SIDE}

19 In middle of spilled diesel, blockhead produces eats (7) EDIBLES {EDI{Bl..k}LES*}

22 Excitedly praise Iran of yore (6) PERSIA*

24 A crime orchestrated by an inhabitant of the United States (8) AMERICAN {A}{CRIME*}{AN}

26 Mad red crone trapped (8) CORNERED*

28 Brags, “Starting to save in vessels” (6) BOASTS {BOA{Save}TS}

30 Nero fiddled in city (4) RENO*

31 Additional payment on us, boy, in the beginning (5) BONUS {ON}{US}<=>{B}

32 Clock face laid back (4) DIAL<=

DOWN

1   Over-riding power to change vote (4) VETO*

2   Bank lets manufacture warm covers (8) BLANKETS*

3   Robbed Theodore after John (6) LOOTED {TED}<=>{LOO}

4   Head boy rejected can in back-room (7) MONITOR {RO{TIN<=}OM<=}

5   Acknowledged, “Matt died horribly” (8) ADMITTED*

6   One accompanying Bolt is cleaner (6) WASHER [DD]

7   Adios! Leaving one and returning drink (4) SODA ADiOS<=

14 Correct about starting of ceasefire and suspension of hostilities (5) TRUCE {TRU{Ce...e}E}

16 Place to fight in region covering town at last (5) ARENA {ARE{towN}A}

18 Rant, “Aid biter? That’s silly!” (8) DIATRIBE*

20 Bandits and groups capturing capital endlessly (8) BRIGANDS {B{RIGa}ANDS}

21 Young females... they may be bowled by bowlers (7) MAIDENS [DD}

23 One, sir, may be an aged person (6) SENIOR*

25 Stamp showing Bond’s boss, I hear, with chief (6) EMBOSS {(~m)EM}{BOSS}

27 Unlock duck corral (4) OPEN {O}{PEN}

29 RIP... One may drop this on someone’s death... (4) TEAR [DD]

 

Reference List

European = E, Boy = B, John = LOO

No 14813, Saturday 06 June 2026, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Damage hot weapon (4) HARM {H}{ARM}
9 Ms Lamb has right to get hitched (5) MARRY MAR{R}Y
10 Swear in Damascus, Syria (4) CUSS [T]
11 Silly ass takes a moment to get a snack (6) SAMOSA {ASS}* around {A}{MO} Reminded of Dr. Gayatri

12 Tense, perhaps, before sire manufactured baked goods (8) PASTRIES {PAST}{SIRE*}

13 Sculpture tray at US building (8) STATUARY*
15 Convent head hugs boys in entrance after Catholics leave (6) ABBESS A(-cc+BB)BBESS
17 Author Pearl protects a couple of students with love for animal (7) BULLOCK BU{LL O}CK
19 Start from actor Kelly and sister (7) GENESIS {GENE}{SIS}
22 Small ring of light accompanied Mike's greeting (6) SHALOM {S}{HALO}{M}
24 One parliamentarian wandered and got better (8) IMPROVED {I}{MP}{ROVED}
26 Around end of March, aide with lawmaker gets permit to produce tract (8) PAMPHLET {PA}{MP}{marcH}{LET}
28 Code creator takes large bite of food (6) MORSEL {MORSE}{L}
30 Repeat twice, "Extinct creature" (4) DODO {DOx2}

31 The driver is unable to steer this mode of transport (5) TRAIN [CD]
32 Animal sound from Anantapur region (4) PURR [T]

DOWN
1 Information from armada taped (4) DATA [T]
2 Eternally living tailor stitched around a small measure of length (8) IMMORTAL {TAILOR}* around {MM}
3 Alcoholics Anonymous accepts minced lamb in city (6) AMBALA {AA} around {LAMB*}
4 Drunken sapper going around end of July settles dues in advance (7) PREPAYS {SAPPER}* around {julY}
5 Wrongly see heady cosmetic (8) EYESHADE*
6 Beetle disturbs a crab after commencement of sunset (6) SCARAB {A CRAB}*<=>{Sunset}

7 Insular land in Memphis leased (4) ISLE [T]
14 Feel model accompanied by cry (5) TOUCH {T}{OUCH}
16 Point at small picture by European showing flavouring substance (5) SPICE {S}{PIC}{E}
18 Utter, "Finish" (8) COMPLETE [DD]
20 Silly herpetologists dropping hotels in displays of narcissism (3,5) EGO TRIPS {heRPEtolOGIsTS}*
21 Michigan salt spread around top of rim gives wind! (7) MISTRAL {MI}{SALT* around Rim}
23 Friend returns, rejecting god, to become subservient person (6) LAPDOG {PAL<}{GOD<}
25 Maiden in erstwhile Pune is a Greek goddess (6) POMONA {PO{M}ONA}

27 River covered by Miroslav Ondricek (4) AVON [T]
29 Cad going away from Ecuador counterfeiting money (4) EURO {EcUadOR}*

REFERENCE LIST

Hot=H, Right=R, Moment=Mo, Boy=B, Catholic=C, Sister=Sis, Small=S, Mike=M, One=1=I, Parliamentarian=MP, Aide=PA (Personal Assistant), Large=L, Small measure of length=mm (millimetre), Alcoholic Anonymous=AA, Model=T, Point=S (South or any of the four points in a magnetic compass North, South, East or West ), Michigan=MI, Maiden=M.

No 14812, Friday 05 Jun 2026, Arden

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   Well, takes seconds to create trouble (6) HASSLE {HA{S}{S}LE} 

4   Yearns to get help for a medical complaint (8) DIABETES {DI{ABET}ES}

9   Song about ultimate love and beginning of love in the air (6) AERIAL {A{lovE}RIA}{Love}

10 Chasm created before fleece (8) CASHMERE {CHASM*}{ERE}

12 VIPs were all over the place for advance shows (8) PREVIEWS* 

13 Outlook of a group that keeps quiet (6) ASPECT {A}{S{P}ECT}

15 Perhaps organise team for a threesome (6,1,5) MENAGE A TROIS*

18 Nothing under the closet - showing insincere affection (8,4) CUPBOARD LOVE {LOVE}<=>{CUPBOARD}

21 Turns out taking drug causes disturbance (6) UNREST {UNR{E}ST*}

22 Nickname for Charlie -"Go back only with women" (8) COGNOMEN {C}{GO<=}{NO MEN}

24 Spray is not working - discard (8) JETTISON {JET}{IS+NOT}*

25 One sits quietly before God in a holy place (6) ASHRAM {A}{SH}{RAM}

26 Perhaps Robert's getting a tan (8) BROWNING [DD]

27 French city where Poles take a bet (6) NANTES {N}{ANTE}{S}

DOWN

1   Spooner's bio-fuel, prominence is for a refrigerator (4,4) HEAT PUMP (~peat hump to heat pump)

2   Theatre people and their desire in their progenies (8) SURGEONS {S{URGES}ONS}

3   No.1 quiz that prompts the answer wanted (7,8) LEADING QUESTION {LEADING}{QUESTION}

5   Some aspirants are from this country (4) IRAN [HIPS]

6   Abandon Asia - he is happy with national language (6,9) BAHASA INDONESIA {ABANDON+HE+IS+HAPPY}* 

7   Essays she set to rewrite (6) THESES*

8   Arrange seats, one comes in for some rest (6) SIESTA {S{1}ESTA*}

11 Trust the fancy brew, say (5,2) SWEAR BY*

14 Tense on ground? That's betrayal (7) TREASON {T}{REASON}

16 To millions and millions conservative rise is rubbish (8) TOMMYROT {TO}{M}{M}{TORY<=}

17 These are perhaps writers' assumed title (3,5) PEN NAMES {PEN{NAME}S} &lit

19 State wordplay for an injection (6) PUNJAB {PUN}{JAB}

20 Compelled to include the final prayer at the shrine (6) GROTTO {GO TO} over {p...eR}

23 Tough to proceed (4) GOON {GO ON}

Reference List

Second = S, before = ERE, Quiet = P, Drug = E, Charlie = C, Poles = N,S, Tense = T, Millions = M

No 14811, Thursday 04 Jun 2026, Arden

Solution to 19D 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

1   Daydream with a list Catherine prepared (6,2,3,3) CASTLE IN THE AIR*

10 Romeo wears ring that is expensive (5) PEARL {PEA{R}L}

11 Newly made to inculcate American virtue - a duty that's proportionate (2,7) AD VALOREM {MADE}* over {VALOR}

12 One eating fruit, time for some food (7) ALIMENT {A{LIME}N}{T}

13 Able to stop the boys' return - it's a disgrace (7) SCANDAL {CAN} in {LADS<=}

14 Money for a French rocket almost rejected (5) NAIRA ARIANe<=

16 Dirty job right inside - one strayed (9) MEANDERED {MEAN}{DE{R}ED}

19 Suspect lets alarm go off (5,1,3) SMELL A RAT*

20 Poor creature loses wicket to throw it all up (5) RETCH wRETCH

22 Invested in final round, one day later (7) ENDOWED {END}{O}{WED} What's the role of 'later'?

25 Tie in writing charms (7) MASCOTS {M{ASCOT}S}

27 Bad in law to accept - in other words, it is ambush (3,2,4) LIE IN WAIT {IN+LAW}* over {IE} with {IT}

28 In Kenya, lakes are home to this animal (5) NYALA [T]

29 Amass gold - times change and it becomes the most sought after thing (10,4) COLLECTORS ITEM {COLLECT}{OR}{TIMES*}

DOWN

2   Ticks off with this (9) ACARICIDE [GK] (Addendum - {ACARI}{CIDE}&lit - See comments)

3   It shows approximate inner diameter of a hat (5) TILDE {TIL{D}E}

4   Glass essentially goes in far back like rubber (9) ELASTOMER {gLASs} in {REMOTE<=}

5   In a vestment you can see parts of the church (5) NAVES [T]

6   Dutch also shout outside (9) HOLLANDER {HOLL{AND}ER}

7   Bitter, free undercurrent (5) ACRID {RID}<=>{AC}

8   Animal sacrificed - went on and on (7) RAMBLED {RAM}{BLED}

9   Twist well, get right home (6) SPRAIN {SP{R}A}{IN}

15 A weapon receives modest grant (9) ALLOWANCE {A}{L{LOW}{ANCE}

17 Adjust input schedule on the cockpit instrument (9) ALTIMETER {AL{TIME}TER}

18 Reason to restrict booze consumption (9) RATIONALE {RATION}{ALE} Consumption is superfluous

19 Back in the centre carrying pound of varnish (7) S?E?L?C (Addendum - SHELLAC {bACk}<=>{SHELL}- See comments)

21 Old cavalryman - hard to be one in Soviet Union (6) HUSSAR {H}{USS{A}R}

23 Live long with crude rising (5) DWELL {L}{LEWD}<=

24 It's foolish without reading the outline (5) DRAFT {D{R}AFT}

26 Part of Egypt somewhat soars in air (5) SINAI [T]

Reference List

Romeo = R, Time = T, Right = R, Wicket = W, Writing = MS(Manuscript), Gold = OR, Diameter = D, Home = IN, Hard = H, Long = L, Reading = R

No 14810, Wednesday 03 Jun 2026, Arden

Solution to 1A 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

1   Wait around to get in shortly into a U.S. city (7) W?C?I?A (Addendum - WICHITA {WI{CHIc}TA*})

5   Perceptible by touch - do wear a hat (7) TACTILE {T{ACT}ILE} 

9   Top restaurant opens again - starts to cook (5) ROAST Acrostic

10 Bell tower affected by a river (9) CAMPANILE {CAMP}{A}{NILE}

11 Star in topless trailer, on the beach (9) AMPERSAND {cAMPER}{SAND} Incorrect definition

12 Air you get here is bottled (5) ETHER [T]

13 Excited before midnight (4) AGOG {AGO}{niGht}

15 Happy to get permit for this breed of cattle (8) GALLOWAY {G{ALLOW}AY}

18 Cut down on accommodation - that wasn't funny (4,4) FELL FLAT {FELL}{FLAT}

19 Poet shuns cocktail for food (4) EATS kEATS

22 European city provides 50% of things you need to live... (5) ESSEN ESSENtials

24 ..Scent of an odd German in the neighbouring country (9) FRAGRANCE {FRA{GeRmAn}CE}

26 Making things hard for girl in London district (9) ANNEALING {ANN}{EALING}

27 Skip first day in Elon Musk's old work place (5) DODGE {DO{Day}GE}

28 Most unyielding - company set to change (7) FIRMEST {FIRM}{SET*}

29 One thrown out of a game (7) CANASTA {C{AN}AST}{A} 

 

DOWN

1   Previously a spy agency came up in the capital (6) WARSAW {WAS}{RAW}<=

2   Amazing change - invite a politician for a celebratory drink... (9) CHAMPAGNE {CH{A}{MP}AGNE*}

3   ...meanwhile, I'm off to Bury (5) INTER INTERim

4   Port in Alaska sees a variation between sides (9) ARCHANGEL {A}{R}{CHANGE}{L}

5   Intimidate if one is shy (5) TIMID [HIPS] Hidden, Indicator missing?

6   Tea for each one and one for shepherd (9) CHAPERONE {CHA}{PER}{ONE}

7   Exposed fire risk - hard for a European (5) IRISH {fIRe}{rISk}{H}

8   Rulers seem different including the queen (6) EMEERS {EME{ER}S*}

14 Plant - An evergreen caught in a storm (9) GALINGALE {G{A}{LING}ALE}

16 The garlic makes you feel sleepy (9) LETHARGIC*

17 Law on working inside with radioactive elements (9) ACTINIDES {ACT}{INSIDE}*

20 Benefit the fat man inside to rise (6) BEHALF {FLA{HE}B}<=

21 Categories of information on time (6) GENERA {GEN}{ERA}

23 Instruments to scan sea floor, ultimately (5) SONAR [Tail Acrostic] Semi&lit

24 Stone or fine cotton? (5) FLINT {F}{LINT}

25 Noble gas symbolically remains same without trouble (5) RADON {R{ADO}N}

Reference List

Sides = R,L, Tea = CHA, Hard = H, Queen = ER, Information = GEN, Fine = F

No 14809, Tuesday 02 Jun 2026, Crossant

Solution to 8A 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   Better place found in search occasionally backfires (6) ?A?I?O  (Addendum - CASINO {fOuNd+In+SeArCh}<= - See comments)

9   Public gallery bombing kills girl, leader of youth to blame (8) CULPABLE {PUBliCgALLEry}*

10 What Vaibhav Sooryvanshi does is crazy (4) BATS [DD]

11 Letting in contaminated crude? No, no (10) ADMITTANCE ConTAMINATED*

12 That person gets a place at outskirts of Alps mountain range (9) HIMALAYAS {HIM}{A}{LAY}{AlpS}

14 Lecherous man, drunk, strays endlessly (5) SATYR STRAYs*

16 Finally confirming the rumour from source (4) GERM [Tail acrosic]

18 Reason criminal isn't brought in primarily (5) ALIBI {AL}{Isnt}{Br...t}{In} Semi&lit

19 Priest to work with European religious leader (4) POPE {P}{OP}{E}

21 Inability to coordinate movements of a transport vehicle for auditor (5) ATAXY {A}{(~taxi)TAXY}

23 Hospital in America getting business extremely regularly (9) INFIRMARY {IN}{FIRM}{A}{Re...lY}

26 About one cold heartless nurse melting, showing expression of sympathy (10) CONDOLENCE {C}{ON{COLD+NursE}*E}

28 Money anyway eventually becomes insignificant (4) TINY {TIN}{a...aY}

29 U.S. state beginning to lose goodwill, in trouble (8) CALAMITY {CA}{Lose}{AMITY}

30 Badly injured, Jack goes off devastated (6) RUINED INjURED*

DOWN

1   A date in Paris ending in love and bliss (8) PARADISE {PAR{A}{D}IS}{lovE}

2   Bit of sleep that is savoured throughout afternoon primarily (6) SIESTA {Sl..p}{IE}{Sa...d}{Th...t}{Af...n} &lit

3   Get upset with travel restrictions limiting all new arrivals basically (2,7) GO BANANAS {GO}{BAN{All}{New}{Ar...s}S}

4   Cheat lying about computers (4) SCAM<=

5   Reprimand son coming after scheduled time (5) SLATE {S}{LATE}

6   The French woman seducing men accepts a tip from leading light (4,4) LAVA LAMP {LA}{V{A}{Le...g}AMP}

7   Bold cover of Playboy amasses fortune (6) PLUCKY {Play{LUCK}boY}

13 Agree nearly everyone at home drinks? Good (5) ALIGN {ALl}{I{G}N}

15 People from Osaka maybe adopting one Japanese form of Buddhism, right? (9) CITIZENRY {CIT{1}{ZEN}{R}Y}

17 Gab could be both a gift and a curse perhaps (5,3) MIXED BAG {GAB}* [RA]

20 Was mother torn between father and elder daughter at first? (8) PARENTED {PA}{RENT}{El...r}{Da...r}

22 Norse God with hatchet cut trunk (6) THORAX {THOR}{AXe}

24 Revolutionary Marxist state's leader is off grid (6) MATRIX MARXIsT*

25 Flat in quiet, narrow street by the sound of it (5) PLAIN {P}{(~lane)LAIN}

27 Bill isn't passed when they have it (4) NAYS [CD]

Reference List

Criminal = AL(Capone), Priest = P, Work = OP, European = E, About = C, Money = TIN, Jack = J, Date = D, Son = S, The in French = LA, aAt home = IN< Good = G, Right = R, Quiet = P

No 14808, Monday 01 Jun 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 11A 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

1   Cream is a baker's need, we hear (6) FLOWER (~flour)

4   Chapter out of Africa's wild expedition (6) SAFARI AFRIcAS*

8   Taxes: they actually regulate imports from foreign soil, for starters (7) TARIFFS Acrostic

9   Body builder banned from all contests? (7) STEROID [CD]

11 Worst place underground is mentioned in the Bible perhaps (10) ?E?T?E?L?R (Addendum - BESTSELLER {BEST}{(~cellar)SELLER} - See comments)

12 Cheese is arranged on the counter (4) EDAM<=

13 Upon reflection, will US omit invading city in Iraq? (5) MOSUL [T<=]

14 That's enough of kinky photos on sex (2,4,2) OH STOP IT {PHOTOS}*{IT}

16 Plant a kiss oddly on the mobile (8) STOKESIA {A+KISS+On+ThE}*

18 Small fish primarily found in river from the east (5) ELFIN {NI{Fish}LE}<=

20 Mount Washington's captivating! (4) SHIN [HIPS]

21 How to make the man say "We are the champions"? (4,6) ROCK ANTHEM {THE+MAN}* [RA]

23 Study 'Introduction to Therapeutics' first, to become a doctor (7) DENTIST {DEN}{Th...s}{1ST}

24 Let go and hire again (7) RELEASE RE-LEASE

25 Singular case, partly reviewed, is of lower back (6) SACRAL [T<=]

26 Fancy saree with a little red slip remover (6) ERASER {SAREE}*{Red}

DOWN

1   Case of butter placed in empty fridge (5) FRAME {Fri{RAM}dgE}

2   Without hesitation, runs to snort a bit of illicit drugs (7) OPIATES OPerATES over {Il...t}

3   Reduces cost for American permits (9) ENFEEBLES EN(+fee-a)FEEBLES

5   Shift is a key at the far ends of the typewriter (5) ALTER {ALT}{thE}{t...eR}

6   Ogre ate bananas? Okay! (5,2) AGREE TO*

7   Man-made reservation has no lake (9) IMITATION lIMITATION

10 A weapon having little benefit? (9) ALLOWANCE {A}{L{LOW}ANCE}

13 According to Spooner, to lock the dining room would be perfect (9) MATCHLESS (~latch mess to matchless)

15 Cry with hatred, as emotions initially go haywire (4,1,4) SHED A TEAR {HATRED+AS+Em...s}*

17 Tight necktie almost chokes one on the move (7) KINETIC {NECKTIe}* over {1}

19 Pops down after scoring ecstasy (7) FATHERS FeATHERS

21 Some fear a stalker...a dreaded one (5) RASTA [T]

22 Belgian artist got high consuming narcotics primarily in retreat (5) ENSOR {ROS{Na...s}E}<=

Reference List

Chapter = C, Sex = IT, Hesitation = ER, American = A, Lake = L, Ecstasy = E