No 14871, Thursday 13 Aug 2026, Arden

Solution to 2D 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   Such a number is a contradiction — any way you look at it (5,3,2,4) NEVER ODD OR EVEN <=>

10 Old lot rejected praise (5) EXTOL {EX}{LOT<=}

11 Visit to observe things first hand and make landfall (5,4) FIELD TRIP {FIELD}{TRIP}

12 Hog on surplus, not to be returned (7) GLUTTON {GLUT}{NOT<=}

13 It's iced rum which is most unpredictable (7) DICIEST*

14 Drive over dead animal (5) ELAND {ELAN}{D}

16 Love to read part of a review at a roman institution (9) INAMORATA [T<=]

19 Plant to look intelligent (9) EYEBRIGHT {EYE}{BRIGHT}

20 Well chosen land (5) SPAIN {SPA}{IN}

22 Increasing current passing through the coil (7) RAMPING {R{AMP}ING}

25 A worker getting angry about firm (7) ADAMANT {A}{MAD<=}{ANT}

27 Unfortunately, Hindus get blinded (9) UNSIGHTED*

28 Some return from Newcastle to Hedley to find accommodation (5) HOTEL [T<=]

29 Our fearsome dog barking as well (3,4,7) FOR GOOD MEASURE* 

DOWN

2   Engage half heartedly to accommodate travel companions (9) E?T?U?A?E ()

3   Confidence shown amid all the clatter (5) ECLAT [T]

4   Being rude is bad conclusion (9) OFFENDING {OFF}{ENDING}

5   Fear of death before scan (5) DREAD {D}{READ}

6   They wrote proclamations which embarrassed the cast (9) REDACTORS {RED}{ACTORS}

7   Engine driver set to keep within the lines (5) VERSE [T]

8   Rising prospect of hard hat perhaps finding a fraction of crude oil (7) NAPHTHA {PAN<=}{H}{HAT*}

9   Outstanding protection for English disease (6) DENGUE {D{ENG}UE}

15 Audacity of the Democratic party to go about making mistakes (7-2) DERRING-DO {D}{DO} over {ERRING}

17 Twinkling star will confuse on how to ride a horse (9) ASTRADDLE {STAR*}{ADDLE}

18 Destroy area, blast the stone (9) ALABASTER* 

19 Uniform force inside frame made to protect against cold and noise (7) EARMUFF {U}{F} in {FRAME}*

21 Outsiders narrate that line in anger (6) NETTLE {Na...tE}{ThaT}{LinE}

23 Tight-fisted gentleman is wasting time (5) MISER MIStER

24 To end it all, camping area not safe and enclosed (5) GATED Tail Acrostic

26 Jack embraces, he remains (5) ASHES {AS{HE}S}

Reference List

Old = EX, Dead = D, Chosen = IN, Death = D, Prospect = PAN, Hard = H, Democratic = D, Party = DO, Uniform = U, Force = F, Time = T