No 14695, Tuesday 21 Jan 2026, Arden

Solution to 14D 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   Old revolutionary had plenty to provide cover (6) CLOTHE {C{LOT}HE}

4   Going over the top alone is tough, boss (2,6) AL CAPONE {AL{CAP}ONE}

9   A good essay about a port (6) ODESSA [T]

10 Title restricted to those who are not too old, perhaps (8) BARONAGE {BAR ON AGE}

12 Ending the last four months on a luxury ship — a capital chap (8) BERLINER {BER}{LINER}

13 Discontented judge takes a month to find one innocent (6) JEJUNE {JudgE}{JUNE}

15 State the law to be heard at the racing venue (12) INDIANAPOLIS {INDIANA}{(~police)POLIS)

18 After may be brief call, net working — capable of double refraction (12) BIREFRINGENT {BRIEF*}{RING}{NET*} New word for me

21 First breakthrough — a gate crash will land one in hot water (3,3) TEA BAG {Br...h+A+GATE}*

22 Work can be cultivated all around — lovely! (8) ADORABLE {A{DO}RABLE}

24 Destined for gold — patience oddly missing during days outside... (8) ORDAINED {OR}{D}{pAtIeNcE}{D}

25 ...or during service imbroglio (6) MORASS {M{OR}ASS}

26 Cover for 60 seconds stopping dead (8) LAMINATE {L{A MIN}ATE}

27 Harry asks to include a name of state (6) KANSAS {K{A}{N}SAS*}

DOWN

1   Boast a bit about a worn-out horse (4-4) CROW-BAIT {CROW}{A+BIT}*

2   I've order to refuse bypass (8) OVERRIDE*

3   Correct path is isolation to get medical care (15) HOSPITALISATION*

5   Conduct in front (4) LEAD [DD]

6   The malady that ensures people are on a six-an-over disposition (8,7) ANOREXIA NERVOSA* Semi&lit? For a word like this the definition could have been a bit more precise than just Malady

7   Work on a what, in Spain? Not clear at all (6) OPAQUE {OP}{A}{QUE}

8   Every essential equipment empties into a hole (6) EYELET {EverY}{Es...aL}{Eq...nT}

11 Song indeed is late (7) DELAYED {DE{LAY}ED}

14 Hand over in-laws to a fellow traveller (7) ?O?R?D?  

16 Is able to switch partners with tribades (8) LESBIANS {IS+ABLE}*{N}{S}

17 Like to restrict work — it's the doubting Thomases (8) ATHEISTS {AS} over {ITS+THE}*

19 Walk-way on top of list (6) STROLL {ST}{ROLL}

20 Timed naturally while some of them rise together (6) TANDEM [T<=]

23 Festivity said to be for an achievement (4) FEAT (~fete) US and British pronunciations of FETE are totally different

Reference List

Work = DO, Gold = OR, Day = D, Name = N, Work = OP, What in Spanish = QUE, Song = LAY, Partners = N(orth),S(outh) in Card game Bridge, Way = ST, List = ROLL