No 14851, Tuesday 21 Jul 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 7D 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   Go back to steal from oriental closet (8) WARDROBE {DRAW<=}{ROB}{E}

5   Problem mastering some subsidiary propositions (6) LEMMAS [T]

10 Shame about member getting absolute power (7) STAMINA {STA{M}IN}{A}

11 Encircle tortuous vein on radius (7) ENVIRON {VEIN+ON+R}*

12 Prince captivated by English show about fencing swords (5) EPEES {E}{P}{SEE<=}

 13 Flying insect going around a set is bothering persistently (7,2) GNAWING AT {GN{A}{WING}AT}

14 Little chance of finishing soon? Sigh! (2,3,2,5)  NO END IN SIGHT {SIGHt} Rebus

18 Pair agree on going astray with many in this? (4,8) OPEN MARRIAGE {PAIR+AGREE+ON+M}* Semi&lit

21 European star exercising after knocking back a drink in old Greek gymnasium (9) PALAESTRA {E}{STAR*}<=>{A LAP<=}

23 Greek character overwhelmed by viral pharyngitis (5) ALPHA [T]

24 Ran haphazardly during commotion in tempest (7) TORNADO {TO{RAN*}DO}

25 Toughening popular band consuming drugs at centre (7) INURING {IN}{drUgs}{RING}

26 Shelves with large borders (6) LEDGES {L}{EDGES}

27 Introduced new resident (8) INSERTED*

DOWN

1   Hunk hosting female freshened up (6) WASHED {WA{SHE}D}

2   Rise to embrace extremely desirable university lecturer (6) READER {REA{De...lE}R}

3   Managed to save one male crossing southern hill in deluge (9) RAINSTORM {RA{1}N}{M} over {S}{TOR}

4   Bohemian writers in club consuming ecstasy and dope are turning into rebels (4,10) BEAT GENERATION {B{E}AT}{GEN}{ARE<=}{INTO*}

6   Concluding stanza of poem by novice about leaving college (5) ENVOI NOVIcE*

7   Tense and quiet, crushed by additional loan (8) ?O?T?A?E (Addendum - MORTGAGE  {T}{GAG} in {MORE} - See comments)

8   Disinfect article with iodine in case (8) SANITATE {S{AN}{I}TATE}

9   Restoration of extremely ramshackle house outside Long Island (14) REHABILITATION {Ra...lE}{HABI{LI}TATION}

15 Distinctive mark of genius, art's remarkable (9) SIGNATURE*

16 Lots with a hip fracture here? (8) HOSPITAL {LOTS+A+HIP}* &lit

17 Sophisticated lady starts to laugh, becoming rather enthralled by marijuana (4-4) WELL-BRED {L}{La..h}{Be...g}{Ra...r} in {WEED}

19 Run special issue (6) SPRINT {S}{PRINT}

20 Bashed group grabbing girl on base (6) BANGED {BAN{G}{E}D}

22 Pick up rumour about onset of epidemic (5) ELATE {TALE<=}{Ep...c}

Reference List

Oriental = E, Member = M, Absolute = A, Radius = R, Prince = P, English = E, Many = M, European = E, Popular = IN, Large = L, Male = M, Southern = S, Hill = TOR, Ecstasy = E, College = C, Tense = T, Lady = L, Special = S, Girl = G, Base = E