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