No 14909, Monday 28 Sep 2026, Dr. X

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   Where one sees the letter E explicitly? (2,2,4,5) IN SO MANY WORDS [C&DD]

8   Advance to save boy in valley (5) COMBE {COM{B}E}

9   Delighted with production of oil by American plant (9) GLADIOLUS {GLAD}{OIL*}{US}

11 Teen in inn excited about boy finally giving number (6-4) NINETY-NINE {TEEN+IN+INN}* over {boY}

12 Starts to appreciate fine African rhino from a distance (4) AFAR Acrostic

14 Rose edited series about Greek mythological character (7) ORESTES {ROSE*}{SET<=}

16 Asserting briefly about making a bloomer (7) NIGELLA {ALLEGINg<=}

17 Deceiver cheers up after ensnaring maiden (7) SCHEMER {SCHE{M}ER*}

19 Small tin can made of tin (7) STANNIC {S}{TIN+CAN}*

21 Lover starts to cuddle at first (4) ERST [T]

22 Liaison at rave after consuming cocaine - becoming rebellious (10) ANTISOCIAL {LIAISON+AT}* over {C}

25 Cause a commotion in bar, catching date embracing hot lady (5,4) RAISE HELL {RAI{SE{H}E}L}{L}

26 Lyric poet turned very tense, entertaining princess (5) ODIST {SO<=}{T} over {DI}

27 Art of artfully reshaping with latest in 3D CGI (7,6) GRAPHIC DESIGN {RESHAPING+3D+CGI}* Semi&lit

DOWN

2   Runner's not at all well, close to collapse (7) N?M?N?E ()

3   Love smart American couple welcoming members at launch individually (3,2,1,4) ONE AT A TIME {O}{NEAT}{A}{TI{Me...s}E}

4   Content of natural ginseng gum (5) ALGIN [T]

5   Desires remuneration after end of therapy (9) YEARNINGS {EARNINGS}<=>{t...pY}

6   Bishop, one wearing outsize sashes (4) OBIS {B}{1} in {OS}

7   Model consuming ecstasy with posh fellow turned miserable (7) DOLEFUL {DOL{E}{U<=>F}L}

8   Specialist beginning to chat about treatment of neurosis (11) CONNOISSEUR {Chat}ON}{NEUROSIS*}

10 Knight in position trapping one's rook with clean moves (3,8) SIR LANCELOT {S{1}{R}{CLEAN*}LOT}

13 Goad union's ridiculous dinosaurs (10) GUANODONS*

15 Peaceful, having good time on island's national park (9) SERENGETI {SEREN{G}E}{T}{I}

18 Woman drinking wine, becoming more reckless (7) HASTIER {H{ASTI}ER}

20 Nudging to control one talking loudly (7) NOISING {NO{1}SING}

23 Relaxed in food shop in retreat, cuddling date (5) IDLED {DEL{D}I<=}

24 Look at bottom of pump for leak (4) SEEP {SEE}{pumP}

Reference List

Boy = B, Maiden = M, Small = S, Cocaine = C, Hot = H, Lady = L, Tense = T, Princess = DI, American = A, Bishop = B, Outsize = OS, Ecstasy = E, Posh = U, Fellow = F, Rook = R, Good = G, Time = T, Island = I, Date = D