No 14919, Friday 09 Oct 2026, Pixie Dust

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

7   Oh! This dessert funnily got a hole! (6) GELATO {GELATO+OH}*=GOT A HOLE

8   Study substitute with a bit of terrifying condescension (8) CONTEMPT {CON}{TEMP}{Te...g}

9   Essentially Jacob must stick to this kind of musical instrument (8) ACOUSTIC {jACOb}{mUSt}{sTICk}

10 Scoundrel cycling around Henry, sniffles (6) WHINES {(-s)W{H}INE(+s)S}

11 Master stroke acquiring one British Bar (8) PROHIBIT {PRO}{H{1}{B}IT}

12 Losing face, lamenting and suffering (6) AILING wAILING

13 Live on...smitten! (5,2,4) MADLY IN LOVE {LIVE+ON}* [RA]

18 Authorise a manager to disclose rating in London (6) SEAMAN [T]

20 Perhaps stay fit accepting rule to classify according to a graded scale (8) STRATIFY {STAY+FIT} over {R}

22 Mate regularly ignoring Bishop's corrupt scheme (6) SPOUSE {biShoPs+cOrrUpt+SchEme}

23 Swell! Here batter is safe! (8) INCREASE {IN CREASE}

24 Look, Sir! ET's are to a certain extent backing star? (8) ASTERISK [T<=]

25 Penny chases husband out and hammers (6) POUNDS {P}{hOUNDS}

DOWN

1   Happy boxing copper element (7) MERCURY {MER{CU}RY}

2   Old Russian woman's headscarf (8) BABUSHKA [DD]

3   Spooner's child (middle) in steam bath? (3,3) HOT TUB (~tot hub to hot tub)

4   Blizzard? Fellow is beginning to breakdown and explode (8) SNOWBALL SNOW(-f+b)BALL

5   Delivered grain soap (6) SERIAL (~cereal)

6   Special transparent material protecting primarily exposed organs (7) SPLEENS {SP}{LE{Ex...d}NS}

8   Frequently used tack oils for cylindrical skewer? (8,5) COCKTAIL STICK {TACK+OILS}* [Letter Bank]

14 Hang on! Don't start to tell a story in undies (8) LINGERIE {LINGER}{lIE}

15 Corrupted virtue...so like glass! (8) VITREOUS* 

16 Experiment involving English politician leads to commotion (7) TEMPEST {T{E}{MP}EST}

17 Harry dies of mainly fatigue in part of a cricket field (3,4) OFF SIDE {DIES+OF+Fa...e}*

19 Guy goes around university with date and gets attacked (6) MAULED {MA{U}LE}{D}

21 For starters, roast eggplant chunks in parmesan emulsion (6) RECIPE Acrostic Semi&lit

Reference List

Study = CON, Henry = H, British = B, Rule = R, Penny = P, Husband = H, Fellow = F, Special = SP, English = E, Politician = MP, University = U, Date = D

No 14918, Thursday 08 Oct 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 14D 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   American churchman not beginning to bother about country (6) ARABIA {A}{ RAbBI}{A}

5   It's believed that swallow modelled (8) SUPPOSED {SUP}{POSED}

9   Can these men of letters recreate real Titanic? (8) LITERATI {LITERATI+CAN}*=REAL TITANIC [CA]

10 South African animal delivered brand of footwear (6) RHEBOK (~reebok)

11 Toss a coin up umpteen times for a delicious beverage? (10) CAPPUCCINO {A+COIN+UP}* [Letter Bank]

12 Leonidas regularly missing targets (4) ENDS lEoNiDaS

13 Day and night, say, Santo cycling around city Male (8) ANTONYMS {(-s)ANTO(+s)S} over {NY}{M}

16 Bogus Dame? (4-2) MADE-UP {DAME}*

17 Prompt understanding for those in hearing (6) INCITE (~in sight)

19 Doctor has decks, one makes payments here (4,4) CASH DESK*

21 Mother India from east or west (4) AMMA <=>

22 Avoid skirt (10) CIRCUMVENT [DD] 

25 Husband! Kiss and cuddle, mother's away for errand basically (3,3) EKE OUT {(-ma+e)EKE OUT}

26 Tiro Quoist protecting a member of a former confederacy (8) IROQUOIS [T]

27 Used card all over the place and struggled (8) CRUSADED*

28 Spooner suggests: "Caress Sprite for a generous package!" (3,3) FAT PAY (~pat fay to fat pay)

DOWN

2   For starters, radish and Italian tomatoes added in a yogurt-based dish (5) RAITA Acrostic

3   Some scrape elbows back-to-front and make a high-pitched sound (5) BLEEP [T<=]

4   A new year welcoming playful pandemonium (7) ANARCHY {A}{N}{ARCH}{Y}

5   Strong drinks for ghosts (7) SPIRITS [DD]

6   Represent each type (7) PERFORM {PER}{FORM}

7   Penned ode about something that is unrestricted? (4-5) OPEN-ENDED*

8   Old rum I'd so let loose in opening remarks (9) EXORDIUMS {EX}{RUM+ID+SO}*

14 One who never lets cancer stick near? (3-6) N?N-?M?K?R (Addendum - NON-SMOKER [CD] - See comments)

15 First sign of orphan Pirrip, say, with Spark? Almost magnificent! (9) OPIPAROUS {Or...n}{PIP}{AROUSe}

18 In a panic mentioned tailing former boyfriend (7) EXCITED {CITED}<=>{EX}

19 Moved, shed tears over Army Regulation (7) CARRIED {C{A}{R}RIED}

20 Disconnect appliances which you want to babyproof yourself at last (4,3) SHUT OFF Tail Acrostic

23 Clear the cellar (5) VAULT [DD]

24 Currency found in Malaysian AirAsia (5) NAIRA [T]

Reference List

American = A, About = A, Swallow = SUP, City = NY, Male = M, New  = N, Year = Y, Old = EX, Army Regulation = AR

No 14917, Wednesday 07 Oct 2026, Saral

Solution to 12D 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   Surplus force entering certain industrial town at first (7) SURFEIT {SUR{F}E}{In...l}{Town}

8   Agreement of a conservative on bond (6) ACCORD {A}{C}{CORD}

9   Partially scan vast painting (6) CANVAS [T]

10 Former writer, say penning new books for promoter (8) EXPONENT {EX}{PO{N}E}{NT}

11 One preparing rice blend. Fantastic! (10) INCREDIBLE {1}{RICE+BLEND}*

13 Copy part of the chorus (4) ECHO [T]

14 Primate enshrines relics finally in church area (4) APSE {AP{r...cS}E}

16 Energy and pressure throwing off Mark's garden tool (5) POWER {(+p-m)POWER}

18 Right away chopping shrub and plant (4) BUSH SHrUB*

19 Quick huge returns investing lakhs initially (4) GLIB {B{La..s}IG<=}

21 Withdrawing from skipping around institute street (10) DISTANCING {D{I}{ST}ANCING}

23 Intense anxiety of soldier in Kohima leaving occasionally (8) PARANOIA {PARA}{iN+kOhImA}

25 Deans ordering small cars (6) SEDANS {DEANS}*{S}

26 Idle talk of girl with very large drink (6) GOSSIP {G}{OS}{SIP}

27 Son left terrible bar in retreat (7) HIDEOUT {HIDEOUs}{T}

DOWN

1   Translator unwilling to go through? (8) TRAVERSE {TR}{AVERSE}

2   Confused angry supermodels ignoring short role perhaps (6,2) MESSED UP {SUPErMoDElS}*

3   Swelling troubling your eye from the beginning? (4) STYE Acrostic Semi&lit

4   Bird's blurry image outside park (6) MAGPIE {MAG{P}IE*}

5   Some craftsmen principally working next to church in defensive fort (6) SCONCE {Some}{Cr...n}{ON}{CE}

6   Stench spreading across again in gutters (8) TRENCHES {T{RE}NCHES*}

7   Cramps while cycling in country (5) SPAIN (+s)SPAIN(-s)

12 Throws dishes (5) B?W?S (Addendum - BOWLS [DD] - See comments)

15 Look at daughter's pants, primarily spoiling dress design (5,3) POLKA DOT {LOOK+AT+D+Pa..s}*}

17 Piece of music in D sharp, old composing melody at last (8) RHAPSODY {D+SHARP+O}*{m...dY}

18 Support doctor with operation theatre setting (8) BACKDROP {BACK}{DR}{OP}

20 Baker's chief to promote cook (6) BRAISE {Ba...s}{RAISE}

21 Disheartened director with an expression of apology, bows (6) DROOPS {Di...oR}{OOPS}

22 Group of players went on playing missing introduction (5) NONET {wENT+ON}*

24 Teacher hiding pain (4) ACHE [HIPS]

Reference List

Force = F, Conservative = C, Former = EX, New = N, Books = NT(New Testament), Pressure = P, Mark = M, Right = R, Institute = I, Street = ST, Small = S, Girl = G, Very large = OS, Bar = T, Translator = TR, Park = P, Church = CE, Again = RE, Daughter = D, Old = O, Operation = OP

No 14916, Tuesday 06 Oct 2026, Karaoke

Solution to 19A 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   Mrs. Henry rues uncontrollably while narrating unknown verses for children (7,6) NURSERY RHYMES {MRS+HENRY+RUES}* over {Y}

10 Where a train should be to make progress? (2,5) ON TRACK [DD]

11 Perfect to enjoy long time in retreat (7) SHELTER {SHE{L}{T}ER}

12 Lack of interest, of course, in any case (6) APATHY {An{PATH}Y}

13 Spooner's father gambles amounts that can never be recovered (3,5) BAD DEBTS (~dad bets to bad debts)

14 Before the end of day, fancy thing worn by women (6) NIGHTY  {daY}<=>{THING}*

16 0° Celsius or 32° Fahrenheit from inception, maybe not new (3,5) ICE POINT INCEPTIOn*

19 Skirts around central party's cocktails (8) M?R?I?I? (Addendum - MARTINIS {M{pARTy}INIS} - See comments)

20 Programming specialist in school, skips advanced information engineering initially (6) TECHIE {TEaCH}{In...n}{En...g}

21 They guard the chests by taking extraordinary care with big guns at boundary (3,5) RIB CAGES {CARE+BIG+gunS}*

23 Allowed nothing over board (6) LINTEL {LET}{NIL}<= Lintel is a BEAM not BOARD

26 Hanging harmful revolutionary in dream (7) LOLLING {LO{ILL<=}NG}

27 Knock panda group at the midpoint? It's not possible (2,3,2) NO CAN DO {kNOCk+pANDa+grOup}

28 Outstanding girl studies Hindi with difficulty (13) DISTINGUISHED  {G+STUDIES+HINDI}*

DOWN

2   Diehard setter opts out of ritual dance (5) ULTRA RiTUAL*

3   Something to eat during breaks over the table mainly perhaps with Karaoke (9) SPAGHETTI {GAPS<=}{THE+Ta..e}*{I}

4   Ignore boy, check for playboy (4) RAKE bRAKE

5   Fact-finding coordinator at centre leaves his career in a fit of anger (8) RESEARCH {HiS+CAREER}*

6   Why I say, silently leave trophy and admit defeat (5) YIELD{(~why)Y}{shIELD}

7   Found enjoyment, going topless, holding rounded clubs (9) ESTABLISH {rE{BATS<=}LISH}

8   Some rural man confused about new CIVIL ID perhaps? (5,8) ROMAN NUMERALS {SOME+RURAL+MAN}* over {N} DBE

9   Terrible loss for other Congress mainly when politicians join the opposite side (5,3,5) CROSS THE FLOOR {LOSS+FOR+OTHER+Co...s}*

15 Mock up one person without natural covering mostly in loose blouse (9) GARIBALDI {RAG<=}{I}{BALD}{In}

17 Inspector shot main criminal for major offence within boundaries (9) PRECINCTS {INSPECT(+c-o)CR}*

18 Mercenary from Edinburgh working to eliminate bishop (5,3) HIRED GUN EDINbURGH*

22 Part of hospital is tailor-made for noted celebrities in the show business (1-4) A-LIST [T]

24 Heavy-weight wife leaves Newton, while cycling (5) TONNE (+ton)TONNE(-w)(-ton)

25 Two-toed sloth runs heartily on the banks of Anapu (4) UNAU {rUNs}{AnapU}

Reference List

Unknown = Y, Long = L, Time = T, New = N, Advanced = A, Girl = G, Boy = B, Silently = SH, Bishop = B, Wife = W

No 14915, Monday 05 Oct 2026, Gussalufz

Solution to 5D 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.

THREE TRICKY ONES

ACROSS

9   One gets complaints so dumb! Am flustered and close to exhaustion (9) OMBUDSMAN {SO+DUMB+AM}*{e...oN}

10 Wicked bouncer, jaffa? Look, concentrate, finally duck (5) DRAKE Tail Acrostic

11 Take it quietly, go on (7) PRESUME {P}{RESUME}

12 Breathe fire (7) INSPIRE [DD]

13 Turn vessel collecting drip (5) PIVOT {P{IV}OT}

14 A question about relationships (9) EQUATIONS*

16 Sec. censored porn scattered in letters (15) CORRESPONDENCES*

19 Maybe insert a comma in wordplay; cut roughly at end of phrase? (9) PUNCTUATE {PUN}{CUT*}{AT}{p...sE}

22 Frenchman and German captured by spies backing trickery (5) MAGIC {M}{CI{G}A<=}

24 Tried miserably sad eyes (7) ESSAYED*

26 First among desserts is cake trimmed with fudge (7) DISTORT {De...s}{IS}{TORTe}

27 Fierce dinosaur repelled after conclusion of dire struggle (5) EXERT {T-REX<=}<=>{dirE}

28 Secret of strep, one merciless bacterium (9) TREPONEME [T]

DOWN

1   Enliven very plump-at-the-core small dog (4,2) SOUP UP {SO}{plUmp}{PUP}

2   Witness some deliveries bearing "Bombay Stock Exchange" sticker at the bottom (8) OBSERVER {O{BSE}{s...eR}VER}

3   Student jam triggered change (10) ADJUSTMENT*

4   Victim: pedestrian hanging outside bar (6) IMPEDE [T]

5   Tailless lizard — it can be black or red on top — from a Caribbean island (8) ?N?I?U?N (Addendum - ANTIGUAN {ANT}{IGUANa} - See comments)

6   Podcaster's sales pitches for supplements (4) ADDS (~ads}

7   Some countered: London is actually a better place? (6) CASINO [T<=]

8   Oracle up, reinforced by tax breaks (8) RECESSES {SEER<=} over {CESS}

15 The real aim, ultimately, is to start to reverse-engineer a semiconductor device (10) THERMISTOR {THE}{R}{aiM}{IS}{TO}{Re...r}

16 Encrypted redesign of chip before sending, essentially (8) CIPHERED {CHIP*}{ERE}{senDing}

17 Congratulations, extremely professional investigations! (8) PLAUDITS {Pr...aL}{AUDITS}

18 Minor employee can at last sign name (8) COGNOMEN {COG}{caN}{OMEN}

20 More demanding about one's working post-retirement (6) NOSIER {RE}{1'S}{ON}<=

21 Editor passes on some current events (6) EDDIES {ED}{DIES}

23 Catholic feels sorry for priest getting ignored in urban areas (6) CITIES {C}{pITIES}

25 Hairy creature regularly seen lifting in the gym (4) YETI {In+ThE+gYm}<=

Reference List

Quietly = P, Drip = IV, Frenchman = M< German = G, Real = R, Before = ERE, About = RE, Editor = ED, Catholic = C, Priest = P

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 76, Sunday 04 Oct 2026, Incognito

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

Please submit all your answers in one comment.

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

8   Letter from Tibet arrived (4) BETA [T]

9   Engineers mentioned in the number (5) THREE {TH{RE}E}

10 One leaves heavenly female in 60 minutes (4) HOUR HOURi

11 Some Middle Easterners and European soldiers follow Yankee at institute (6) YEMENI {E}{MEN}<=>{Y} at {I}

12 Acacia, for example, from one door now being repaired (8) IRONWOOD {1+DOOR+NOW}*

13 Left university girl in European country (8) PORTUGAL {PORT}{U}{GAL}

15 Take for short time old Rolls Royce parked in front of ship (6) BORROW {O}{RR} in {BOW}

17 Horribly cursed a second hand automobile (4-3) USED-CAR*

19 Hoped snake with anger died (7) ASPIRED {ASP}{IRE}{D}

22 Accompany from Spanish court after discarding uniform (6) ESCORT {ES}{COuRT}

24 For example, Paddy and Rishi strangely manage in absence of time (8) IRISHMAN {RISHI*}{MANage}

26 After middle of night, excitedly pour champagne, for example, at first for musical band (3,5) POP GROUP {niGht}{POUR*}<=>{POP}

28 Wrongly buries precious stones (6) RUBIES*

30 Consumed after soft mincemeat (4) PATE {ATE}<=>{P}

31 Rise and dress (3,2) GET UP [DD]

32 Colour bird carrying a piece of nut (4) TINT {TI{Nut}T}

DOWN

1   Give away editor hiding in church (4) CEDE {C{ED}E}

2   Secured legal right to place temporary accommodation next to Father Edward (8) PATENTED {TENT}<=>{PA} and {ED}

3   Group following saint to get packing material (6) STRING {RING}<=>{ST}

4   Dotty communication from superb rail leaflet (7) BRAILLE [T]

5   Engineers with scepticism starting to scrap fortifications (8) REDOUBTS {RE}{DOUBT}{Sc..p}

6   One who displays a bathroom fitting (6) SHOWER [DD]

7   Embrace with love, the author of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (4) HUGO {HUG}{O}

14 Individual leaving fertile spot around Middle Eastern kilns (5) OASTS {OASiS} over {easTern}

16 Final letter from Santhome garrison (5) OMEGA [T]

18 Like hats 7 manufactured (2,6) AS THOUGH {HATS*}{HUGO*}

20 Lives in horrible sin, possessing addictive practice (8) INHABITS {SIN}* over {HABIT}

21 Can spot damaged metal vessels (7) TINPOTS {TIN}{SPOT*}

23 Wild parties from Oregon soldiers having Ecstacy (6) ORGIES {OR}{GI{E}S}

25 In absence of net, wrongly interrupt and intrude (6) IRRUPT InteRRUPT

27 Major Albert's hiding a sort of test (4) ORAL [T]

29 Bird from other nest (4) ERNE [T]

Reference List

Engineers = RE(Royal Engineers), European = E, Yankee = Y, Institute, University = U, Old = O, Rolls Royce = RR, Died = D, Spanish = ES, Uniform = U, Soft = P, Editor = ED, Church = CE, Edward = ED, Saint = ST, Individual = I, Soldiers = GIS, Ecstasy = E

No 14914, Saturday 03 October 2026, Avtaar

 ACROSS
1 That is Avtaar entering when I have left, naturally (6) NAMELY {ME} in NAi'veLY

4 Amateur boxing tour disrupted near Cambodia's capital (8) KHARTOUM {HAM} around {TOUR*}<=>K
9 Abandon plant amidst pandemonium (6) DISOWN {SOW} in {DIN}
10 Uplifting energy provided in passing (8) EDIFYING {E}{D{IF}YING}
11 Supply from Canada losing money with onset of recession almost trebled result of international sales (7,2,5) BALANCE OF TRADE {F(-r) O(-m) CANADA+TREBLE(-d)}*
13 Throughout a meeting emotional quotient essentially found wanting (10) INADEQUATE {EQ}{foUnd} in {IN}{A}{DATE}
14 Partners exchanged, means to send data for tweeters? (2-2) HI-FI {-w+H}HI-FI
16 Playful bow (4) ARCH [DD]
18 Part of physics involving inversion of model data (10) STATISTICS {STA{SIT<}TICS}
21 Shouting Help, say, about introduction of arbitrary rule probing storage fee (8,6) CARRYING CHARGE {CRYING}{CHAR}{EG<} around {Arbitrary}{Rule}
23 Director left for Illinois, developing office tower? (8) BUILDING {BU(-d+IL)ILDING}
24 Smelly wonky old studio releasing toxins at the entrance (6) ODIOUS {O}{StUDIO}*
25 Doctor listened and volunteered (8) ENLISTED*
26 Right through, ace is ahead (6) PROPER {PER}<=>{PRO}

DOWN
1 Exposed factor in rising redundancy (4) NUDE [HIPS<]
2 Mom's vehicle given touch of artificial colouring in front (7) MASCARA {MA'S}{CAR}{Artificial}

3 Wife visiting America enters Michigan, say, with Republican congressman (8) LAWMAKER {A{W}M} in {LAKE}+R
5 Composed a story Ditch of Still Water? (11) HYDROSTATIC*
6 Foot for base of prop in standing counter (6) REFUTE {RE(-p+F)FUTE}
7 One old Communist leader turned up checking doctor's paperwork? (7)ORIGAMI {I}{MAO}< around {RIG}

8 Science of drawing? (9) MAGNETICS [CD]
12 Leader quitting act of voluntary humiliation following judge's sanction (11) COUNTENANCE pENANCE<=>COUNT
13 Short-tempered herbalist uncovered case of Icelandic nuts (9) IRASCIBLE {hERBALISt IcelandiC}*
15 Head to investigate mudslinging Brit? (8) ISLANDER {Investigate}{SLANDER}
17 Cheerful bird lifted face (7) CORDIAL {ROC<}{DIAL}
19 Smart mature women leaving tribe? (7) INGROUP {IN}{GROw UP}
20 Group of stars held at the borders, say, furtively hiding ecstasy (6) HYADES {HelD SAY}* around E

22 Sailor entertains special authority on a subject (4) TSAR {T{S}AR}

REFERENCE LIST

Money=M, Emotional Quotient=EQ, Director=D, Illinois=IL, Old=O, Wife=W, America=Am, Republican=R, Foot=F, Special=S.

No 14913, Friday 02 Oct 2026, Hypatia

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Fine dialect mixed with English (8) DELICATE {DIALECT}*{E}

5   Abridged creator's introduction to song composer (6) BRAHMS {BRAHMa}{Song}

10 A criminal had occasionally seen crime as unrighteousness (7) ADHARMA {A}{HAD*}{cRiMe+As}

11 Completely obsolete or modernised (7) UPDATED {UP}{DATED}

12 Technical expressions representing many subjects, basically (5) TERMS Acrostic &lit

13 Heated and dry cooked to remove water (9) DEHYDRATE*

14 Proposed healthy topic's abandoned (12) HYPOTHETICAL*

18 Spooner's restrained like a hawk in perfect condition (5,2,1,4) SOUND AS A BELL {~bound as a sell to sound as a bell}

21 State of guy trapped in Iran - America conflicts (9) ARGENTINA {GENT} in {IRAN+A}*

23 Fruit sources of original liquor in Venice especially (5) OLIVE Acrostic

24 Divine journey meeting daughter's wish (7) GODLIKE {GO}{D}{LIKE}

25 Tests gold handles (7)  ORDEALS {OR}{DEALS}

26 Tie and dye art's frequently red (6) TENDER {TiE+aNd+DyE+aRt}

27 Long duration of meal regularly converting to energy in motherhood (8) ETERNITY (-ma+e)ETERNITY

DOWN

1   Want samples of handmade art hangings (6) DEARTH [T]

2   Folktale about a husband's city (6) LAHORE {L{A}{H}ORE}

3   Short saint regarded and showed deference (9) CURTSEYED {CURT}{S}{EYED}

4   Dark web expert, reversing role, orders iPod models (8,6) TRAPDOOR SPIDER {PART<=}{ORDERS+IPOD}*

6   Auditor's scanned passport prepared again (5) REDID {(~read)RED}{ID}

7   Cause for condiment that's spicy (3,5)  HOT SAUCE {CAUSE}* [RA]

8   Crafty about vacating unused study without warning (8) SUDDENLY {S{Un..eD}{DEN}LY}

9   First thing to do in a regatta - spare no expenses (4,3,4,3) PUSH THE BOAT OUT [DD]

15 Reject all or derail some tough challenge (4,5) TALL ORDER [T]

16 Snail won second place in running race before (8) ESCARGOT {GOT}<=>{S} in {RACE}*

17 Kipling character united with gang making noise (5,3) GUNGA DIN {U+GANG}*{DIN}

 Though I've belted you and flayed you,
        By the livin' Gawd that made you,
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

— "Gunga Din", lines 82–84

19 Bahraini confused about this desi name (6) BIHARI {BIHARI+A+N}*=BAHRAINI

20 Spirited celebration welcoming onset of Indian year (6) FEISTY {FE{I}ST}{Y}

22 Simple mother lacking time (5) NAIVE NAtIVE

Reference List

English = E, America = A, Daughter = D, Energy = E, Husband = H, Saint = S, Second = S, United = U, About = A, Name = N, Indian = I, Year = Y, Time = T

No 14912, Thursday, 01 Oct 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 28A 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   Fan boy dancing around extremely brave girl in main area (3,2,6) BAY OF BENGAL {FAN+BOY}* Over {BravE} and {GAL}

8   Cool stuff kept in kitchen, frequently (3) ICE kItChEn

10 Breakfast food includes deliciously light item for starters (4) IDLI Acrostic

11 Place with bars in state wasting bachelor's time? (5) TIHAR (-b+t)TIHAR

12 Right from list in podcast (4) LIEN Anno pending (Addendum - (~lean) - See comments)

13 In France, good backing the aristocrat (5) NOBLE {BON<=}{LE} 

15 British actors terribly bored by promotion in show (9) BROADCAST {B+ACTORS}* over {AD}

16 Model on magazine / paper (6) TISSUE {T}{ISSUE}

18 Daughter first abandoned strays (6) DRIFTS {D}{FIRST*}

21 Doctor to those having power — a therapist (9) OSTEOPATH {TO+THOSE}* over {P}{A}

23 Categories of nasty pests (5) TYPES [T]

25 Mammals oddly avoided a plant (4) AMLA {mAmMaLs}{A}

26 Fleece customers at the end, after independent portraits (5) ICONS {CON}{c...rS}<={I}

27 Daily plan's incomplete (4) CHAR CHARt

28 Snake vanishing with insect (3) ?S? (Addendum - ASP wASP - See comments)

29 Peril of an important position (4,7) HIGH PROFILE {PERIL+OF}* [RA]

DOWN

1   Style of cooking indoor at spreads (8) TANDOORI*

2   Drive near huge unending desert (4) GOBI {GO}{BIg}

3   Boat capsizing every now and then had to sink (5) ABATE {BoAt<=}{ATE}

4   Secures Emcees (7) ANCHORS {DD]

5   Spooner's simple palm accessory (8) HAIRBAND (~bare hand to hairband)

6   Entrance of conservative church blocked behind (6) ACCESS {C}{CE} in {ASS}

9   Enthusiasm of star ultimately settling in American Hollywood's home (8) ALACRITY {staR} in {A}{LA CITY}

14 Criminal saves gal in Sin City (3,5) LAS VEGAS*

17 Obscene clip shot in retreat (8)  EXPLICIT {EX{CLIP*}IT}

19 Tips from Spooner to understand stories (8) TOENAILS (~know tales to toenails)

20 Decline an award (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}

22 Almost identical like old inverted triangular snack (6) SAMOSA {SAMe}{AS+O<=}

24 Unlawfully seize using reprobate political leaders! (5) USURP Acrostic &lit

27 Outlet that serves public a few sandwiches (4) CAFE [T]

Reference List

Bachelor = B, Time = T, Good in French = BON, The in French = LE, British = B, Promotion = AD, Model = T, Daughetr = D, Power = P, Independent = I, With = W, Conservative = C, Church = CE, American = A, Old = O