No 14629, Monday 03 Nov 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 27A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

Congrats on the 150th Crossword Hypatia

ACROSS

7   One in long run even marks time for milestone (11) ACHIEVEMENT {ACH{1}E}{EVEN+M}*{T}

8   Niche engagement for a musician from East or West (3) GIG <=>

10 Expected fellow from back row (4) FEUD {DUE}{F}<=

11 He's finally hugged by good-natured relative (5) NIECE {NI{hE}CE}

12 Unlimited hunting expedition at a distance (4) AFAR sAFARi

13 Nun performing in friary's extremely amusing (5) FUNNY {Fri{NUN*}arY}

15 Doctor Desai is following close to get reassured (9) SATISFIED {DESAI+IS+Fo...g+geT}*

16 Restricts Hegde's blunders (6) HEDGES*

18 Eurasian animal's eaten stones, per Spooner (3,3) RED FOX (~fed rocks to red fox)

21 Decorative scroll of painting in frame with base (9) CARTOUCHE {C{ART}OUCH}{E}

23 Any league team essentially requires leaders to change (5) ALTER Acrostic

25 Novak's conclusive victory enthralling current European capital (4) KIEV {n..aK}{V} over {I}{E} 

26 Defile eager song recalled frequently (5) GORGE {EaGeR+sOnG}<=

27 From auditor's notices giving positive responses (4) A?E? (Addendum AYES (~eyes) - See comments)

28 Inferior group saving name (3) BAD BAnD

29 Fidelity starts to reassess every obligation (11) RELIABILITY {Re...s}{Ev..y}{LIABILITY}

DOWN

1   Time in seconds that man had to crack cryptic clue (8) SCHEDULE {S}{C{HE'D}ULE*}

2   Yen, ultimately hedged by reversing bleak judgement (4) MIND {yeN} in {DIM<=}

3   Tournament uniform's a bit tacky (5) EVENT {EVEN}{Ta..y}

4   Harry accepted some introducing most evil primitive beings (7) AMOEBAS {A+SOME}* over {BAd}

5   Central printer I originally unpacked (8) INTERIOR [T]

6   Robber chasing irrational judge (6) PIRATE {PI}{RATE}

9   Overturned hat worn by bear cutting tip of red flower (8) DAFFODIL {LID<=} over {AFFOrD}

14 Say, boring local's pessimistic (8) NEGATIVE {N{EG}ATIVE}

17 Secretly trafficked note taken for money held closely (8) SNUGGLED S(-m+n)NUGGLED

19 Wants their help to regularly set up work in theatre (8) OPERETTA {wAnTs+ThEiR+hElP+tO}<=

20 Oriental rug hustled in cycles (7) DHURRIE (+d)DHURRIE(-d)

22 Rat, perhaps climbing up plate (6) ANIMAL <=

24 Drunk stranger dropped sherbet seasonings (5) HERBS SHERBet*

27 Skillful personnel badly brought up (4) ABLE [T<=]

Reference List

Marks = M, Time = T, Fellow = F, Following = F, Base = E, Victory = V, Current = I,  European = E, Name = N, Seconds = S, Irrational = PI, Note = N, Money = M, Stranger = ET