No 14865, Thursday 06 Aug 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 11A 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

7   Love on the rebound! Strove after losing his heart and matured! (7) EVOLVED {LOVE<=}{ViED}

8   Fair basis of sharing a part or split (3,4) PRO RATA*

10 Sick one, very engrossed in exploit that is unreal (8) ILLUSIVE {ILL}{US{1}{V}E}

11 500 make love and magic! (6) V?O?O? 

12 Disapproving sound, it reflects female habit! It transforms into a sweet flavour! (5-6) TUTTI-FRUTTI {TUT}{IT<=}{F}{RUT}{IT*}

15 Years ago, devised by Patanjali (4) YOGA {Y}{AGO*} Semi&lit

17 Some irritate heedlessly and snigger (2-3) TE-HEE [T]

18 Soil in Buffalo, America (4) LOAM [T]

19 He devours or cooks appetiser (4,7) HORS D'OEUVRE*

22 One who holds liquor without a hint of restraint? (6) BEARER {BE{A}{Re...t}ER}

23 South ignored marketed name, welcomed learner and earlier partner (3,5) OLD FLAME {sOLD}{F{L}AME}

25 One about to get married in cafe around England (7) FIANCEE {IN+CAFE}*{E}

26 Flower within my grasp (7) MASTERY {M{ASTER}Y}

DOWN

1   Advance a prop, possibly for overpopulation (9) EVOLUTION {EVOLUTION+A+PROP}=OVERPOPULATION [CA]

2   Female relative hosting large parade (6) FLAUNT {F}{L}{AUNT}

3   This Himalayan man is still fictional essentially (4) YETI {YET}{f..tIo..l}

4   A teen mostly locked in closet with latest issue of Nancy Drew, perhaps (7,3) PRIVATE EYE {PRIV{A}{TEEn}Y}{i..uE}

5   Provide weapons to old hide-out, rockets and heraldry (8) ARMORIAL {ARM}{O}{LAIR<=}

6   Small and also large seat (5) STOOL {S}{TOO}{L}

9   Shape of toned heart throbs (11) TETRAHEDRON*

13 Teen birder struggling to mix (10) INTERBREED*

14 Something that prevents copyright violations with a model English royal brand (9) WATERMARK {W}{A}{T}{E}{R}{MARK}

16 Fan promotion at this place? Not on vacation! (8) ADHERENT {AD}{HER}{NoT}

20 Twisting and turning sound, time for mass (6) VOLUTE VOLU(-m+t)TE

21 Unfortunately tries to appear in examination again (5) RESIT*

24 No more fear! No resistance! (4) DEAD DrEAD

Reference List

Very = V, Female = F, Habit = RUT, Years = Y, South = S, Learner = L, England = E, Large = L, Closet = PRIVY, Old = O, Small = S, With = W, Model = T, Royal = RPromotion = AD, Time = T, Mass = M, Resistance = R