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