Special, Sunday 01 Feb 2026, Veeyares

Three answers per commenter till 1 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)

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 41, Sunday 01 Feb 2026, Incognito

ACROSS

8   Crazy about one female employee (4) MAID {MA{1}D}

9   Dress, with love, for actress (5) GARBO {GARB}{O}

10 Setter returns American birds (4) EMUS {ME<=}{US}

11 Bird follows Indian Navy trainee (6) INTERN {TERN}<=>{IN}

12 Find yeti running and recognise (8) IDENTIFY* 

13 Guess site team is confused (8) ESTIMATE* 

15 Insect from centre of apple covered by torn shirt (6) THRIPS {THRI{apPle}S*}

17 Butter spread around tip of pipe in lab equipment (7) BURETTE {BUTTER}* over {pipE}

19 Very active police department returns and captures many going back (7) DYNAMIC {CID<=} over {MANY<=}

22 Shed mad rage after pocketing silver (6) GARAGE {GAR{AG}E*} 

24 Prepare to shoot reel about male bird (8) COCKEREL {COCK}{REEL*}

26 Perfect female having no rules (8) FLAWLESS {F}{LAWLESS}

28 Can't Arjuna bleed to some extent? (6) UNABLE [T]

30 Unrestrained party may be gory (4) ORGY* 

31 What volcanoes may do, shaking Peru at end of night? (5) ERUPT {PERU*}{n..hT}

32 Dash during plane landing (4) ELAN [T]

DOWN

1   Threaten conflict is accompanied by destruction in the end (4) WARN {WAR}{d...oN}

2   Damaged sieve had sticky substance (8) ADHESIVE* 

3   Time at National Defence Academy for things to be considered in meeting (6) AGENDA {AGE}{NDA}

4   Went round old ring leader and sank teeth into Edward (7) ORBITED {O}{Ring}{BIT}{ED}

5   City group of witches attempt (8) COVENTRY {COVEN}{TRY}

6   Superior gambler (6) BETTER [DD]

7   Polish aficionado in the nude (4) BUFF [MD]

14 Puts up a domed hemispherical structure (5) STUPA {PUTS<=}{A}

16 First rate set up (5) PRIME [DD]

18 Moved unsteadily from Peg at beginning of the estate road with editor (8) TEETERED {TEE}{The}{Es...e}{Road}{ED}

20 Means "Asserts about time elapsed from birth" (8) AVERAGES {AVER{AGE}S}

21 Mimes "Cats" (4,3) ACTS OUT {CATS}* [RA]

23 Say, "Law is changed for all times" (6) ALWAYS* 

25 Makes a tally of noblemen (6) COUNTS [DD]

27 Bird nesting in Kolar, Karnataka (4) LARK [T]

29 Guide metal wire (4) LEAD [DD]

Reference List

Female = F, Old = O, Edward = ED, Peg = TEE, Editor = ED

No 14509, Thursday 12 Jun 2025, Crescent

Solution to 17A 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.

ACROSS

8   Spooner's stomach aid for gymnastic posture (9) HANDSTAND {~stand hand to handstand)

9   First to last, dirty paintings (4) OILS (-s)OIL(+s)S

10 Rugby Union team rep, lively, consumed by disposition to be feverish (3,1,11) RUN A TEMPERATURE {RU} and {TEAM+REP}* in {NATURE}

12 Abnormally thin English couple catching a cold, one died (9) EMACIATED {E}{MA{C}{1}ATE}{D}

13 Record ton on batting left-handed (5) INEPT {EP}{T}<=>{IN}

14 Observant, required when husband replaces note (7) HEEDFUL (-n+h)HEEDFUL

17 European cycling champs are superior in organisation (7) M?N?G?R (Addendum - MANAGER {(-ger)MAN(+ger)GER} over {A} - See comments)

19 Regrets circumventing lecturer's principles (5) RULES {RU{L}ES}

21 Wretched place concealing start of potential viral disease (9) VARICELLA {pLACE+VIRAL}*

24 Model of one, expect I am in line for this? (15) EXEMPLIFICATION {OF+1+EXPECT+I+AM+IN+L}* &lit

25 Discharge brat (4) SNOT [DD]

26 Monotone, one curiously odd? Yes, strangely delivered (9) UNICOLOUR {ONe+CURIOUsLy}*

DOWN

1   Chore rashly done ending in acute muscle cramp (7,5) CHARLEY HORSE {CHORE+RASHLY+donE} (Correction - {CHORE+RASHLY}*{a..tE} - See comments)

2   One nobody picked up before steady flood (8) INUNDATE {1}{(~none)NUN}{DATE}

3   African thug climbing this to start casing section (6) TSOTSI [T<=]

4   Rodent damage mounting to millions (6) MARMOT {MAR} and {TO}{M}<=

5   Damn dude, lousy rider (8) ADDENDUM*

6   Spot of balm coating bit of chapped area (8) LOCATION {LO{Ch...d}{A}TION}

7   Top bishop, contemptible person (6) BLOUSE {B}{LOUSE}

11 Performers in street near ground (12) ENTERTAINERS*

15 Fellow ends up supporting American nit-pickers (8) FUSSPOTS {F}{STOPS<=}<=>{US}

16 Setter's entering inebriated party (4,2,2) LIVE IT UP {L{I'VE}IT UP}

18 Delay over pilot flying crock for drugs (8) GALLIPOT {LAG<=}{PILOT*}

20 First infiltrates security, seconds later stays under cover? (3-3) LIE-INS {LIE{1}N}{S}

22 Sultana's rule reportedly saving lives (6) RAISIN {(~reign)RAIN} over {IS}

23 Don quickly reversing operation divides family (4,2) CLAP ON {CLA{OP<=}N}

Reference List

Rugby Union = RU, English = E, Cold = C, Died = D, Record = EP(Extended Play), Ton = T, Batting = IN, Husband = H, Note = N, Are = A, Lecturer = L, Line = L, Steady = DATE, Millions = M, Area = A, Bishop = B, Fellow = F, Seconds = S

No 14508, Wednesday 11 Jun 2025, Kriskross

Solution to 10A 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.

ACROSS

1   Leaders in genetics organise lab experiments making small artificial humans (6) GOLEMS Acrostic

4   Reports about extremely unjust laws (8) STATUTES {STAT{Un..sT}ES}

10 Banker with cool, more elegant clothes (9) F?N?N?I?R (Addendum - FINANCIER {F{IN}ANCIER} - See comments)

11 Stupid one visiting pub to get last of booze (5) INANE {IN{A}N}{b..zE}

12 Perhaps Bolivar is one expelled from South American country (7) SURNAME SURiNAME

13 Crime of middleman (7) OFFENCE {OF}{FENCE}

14 Lightweight cat (5) OUNCE [DD]

15 Associate, inflamed about fake news, gave a reply (8) ANSWERED {A}{NEWS*}{RED}

18 He examines bum with diseased sores (8) ASSESSOR {ASS}{SORES*}

20 Insects are regularly chasing young animal (5) PUPAE {ArE}{PUP}

23 Part of duet "Instant love" (7) SECONDO {SECOND}{O}

25 Metal-plated hospital vehicle (7) CHOPPER {C{H}OPPER}

26 Sex ultimately provides delight (5) EXULT [T]

27 Stop the Spanish entering ground to get fuel (6,3) DIESEL OIL {DIE}{S{EL}OIL}

28 Young children in sports meet, primarily everyone following lines (5,3) SMALL FRY {Sp...s}{Meet}{ALL}{F}{RY}

29 Guides drug addicts to consume heroin (6) USHERS {US{H}ERS}

DOWN

1   Fights hard to work in present place (4,4) GIFT SHOP {FIGHTS*}{OP}

2   Want to manage marathon (4,3) LONG RUN {LONG}{RUN}

3   Element of Japanese comic seen differently (9) MANGANESE {MANGA}{SEEN*}

5   Nurse abruptly covers blunder, with staff protecting her finally in panic (6-8) TERROR-STRICKEN {T{ERROR}{ST{heR}ICK}ENd}

6   Boss taking time to replace company's main embezzler (5) THIEF (-c+t)THIEF

7   Student in a home covered by ash, say (7) TRAINEE {TR{A}{IN}EE}

8   Drunk set off to marry (6) STEWED {SET*}{WED}

9   New anodyne rids twitching - but its effect is temporary (4,4,6) NINE DAYS WONDER*

16 Many sleepy or active workers get paid by them (9) EMPLOYERS {M+SLEEPY+OR}*

17 Fellow starts to examine rust lines in metal rings (8) FERRULES {F}{Ex...e}{Rust}{RULES}

19 Peruvian city's university surrounded by Byzantine arches (7) SECHURA {SECH{U}RA*}

21 Indian child and father's act winning Oscar (7) PAPOOSE {PA}{PO{O}SE}

22 Experts spending money for flowers (6) ASTERS mASTERS

24 The French thrash rebellious African state (5) NATAL {LA}{TAN}<=

Reference List

Associate = A, Hospital = H, The in Spanish = EL, Following = F, Lines = RY, Heroin = H, Time = T, Home =IN, Many = M, Fellow = F, University =U, The in French = LA

No 14507, Tuesday 10 Jun 2025, Incognito

Solution to 9A 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.

ACROSS

8   Caution! Washington is ahead of Royal Navy! (4) WARN {WA}{RN}

9   Puts back a structure (5) S?U?A (Addendum - STUPA {PUTS}<={A} - See comments)

10 Ambience in Saurashtra (4) AURA [T]

11 After fish, endlessly lick bulb (6) GARLIC {GAR}{LICk}

12 Think deeply, friend, about ebbing tide (8) MEDITATE {M{TIDE<=}ATE}

13 Hand over wine and document for travelling abroad (8) PASSPORT {PASS}{PORT}

15 Mixing beer with feet? Sorrowful! (6) BEREFT {BEER}*{FT}

17 Asks Kim, "Knitting monkey cap?" (3,4) SKI MASK*

19 Concluded on basis of reasoning, "Bird is tailless, indeed" (7) DEDUCED {DE{DUCk}ED}

22 Change stick (6) SWITCH [DD]

24 Discovers sun rotating and going round our planet (8) UNEARTHS {UN{EARTH}S*}

26 Baker's escape from prison (5,3) BREAK OUT [RA]

28 Semi-spherical structure over front of door has hole! It's ill-fated... (6) DOOMED {DOME}{Door} over{O}

30 Mislead to some extent, "Land in water" (4) ISLE [T]

31 Team in revised set leaves (5) EXITS {E{XI}TS*}

32 Ruler seen in the mirage (4) EMIR [T]

DOWN

1   Ceremonial war dance from Mahakaushal (4) HAKA [T]

2   Man clues wrongly: Personification of America (5,3) UNCLE SAM*

3   Mad man and Yankee caught in shop demolition (6) PSYCHO {PS{Y}{C}HO*}

4   Hands over vehicle rejected by MIT staff initially (7) SUBMITS {BUS<=}{MIT}{St..f}

5   Mike and I, at first, begin lacquering exquisite jawbone (8) MANDIBLE {M}{AND}{I}{Be..n}{La...g}{Ex...e}

6   Male flower, sir (6) MASTER {M}{ASTER}

7   Boy with animal's a rude child (4) BRAT {B}{RAT}

14 Crooked like borough in London (5) ASKEW {AS}{KEW}

16 Meat from broken shelf (5) FLESH*

18 For example, Hesperus' drinking glass (8) SCHOONER [DD]

20 Fully removed our depot building (8) UPROOTED*

21 Reduce dog shadow (7) CURTAIL {CUR}{TAIL}

23 London flower placed back to cover meat (6) THAMES {SET<=} over {HAM}

25 Most senior engineer led Estonia (6) ELDEST {LED*}{EST}

27 Lady leaves highest mountain for others (4) REST eveREST

29 Removing flare from damaged fireplace? It's heroic! (4) EPIC fIrEPlaCe*

Reference List

Yankee = Y, Caught = C, Mike = M, Male =M, Boy = B

No 14447, Tuesday 01 Apr 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 20D 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.

ACROSS

7   Pass secured by end of semester's chosen to be remembered (11) RECOLLETED {COL} in {s...eR}{ELECTED}

8   Recipe tossing a bit of mango preserve in container (3) JAR JA(-m+r)R

10 Primarily cozy and friendly eatery! (4) CAFE Acrostic &lit

11 Wipe small baby cuddling close to mother (5) SCRUB {S}{C{m...eR}UB}

12 Sign in Gulf country using English instead of Arabic header (4) OMEN OM(-a+e)EN

13 Gutted transcripts containing old time messages (5) TEXTS {Tr...{EX}{T}..ts}

15 Remove dust from trifle (6,3) FILTER OUT {TRIFLE}* [RA]

16 Parched after cycling around historic waterway? (6) SEARED {RED}<=>{SEA}

18 Humble Mahatma's teachings chiefly inspired poems (6) MODEST {Ma...a}{Te...s} over {ODES}

21 Supporting one charged after second time for advancement (9) PROMOTION {PRO} with {ION}<=>{MO}{T}

23 Pose No. 1 in selfie amidst three articles (5) ASANA {A}{Se...e}{AN}{A}

25 Obligation needing unwavering strength, basically! (4) ONUS Acrostic &lit

26 Bad idea to join guru's final farewell (5) ADIEU {IDEA}*{gurU}

27 Avoid stay oddly lacking travel permit (4) VISA {aVoId+StAy}

28 Basic test with egg soup? (3) PHO {PH}{O} 

29 Spooner's key more expensive for retailer (11) STOREKEEPER (~core steeper to storekeeper)

DOWN

1   Asian seen going West with sweetheart, bored by friend (8) NEPALESE {SEEN<=}{swEet} over over {PAL}

2   Slimy mud over Elephant's head at animal park (4) OOZE {El...t}{ZOO}<=

3   What can be broken by two girls (5) GLASS {G}{LASS}

4   Criminal or cop is giving a sign (7) SCORPIO*

5   Switched vibrate on mobile - literally (8) VERBATIM {VIBRATE}*{M}

6   Some dog ate auntie's creamy cake (6) GATEAU [T]

9   Occasionally cook more and less for colleagues (8) COMRADES {CoOk+MoRe+AnD+lEsS}

14 Mauritius flourishes exporting posh dessert (8) TIRAMISU MAURITIuS*

17 Began rebelling around college and brings down (8) DETRACTS {STARTED<=} over {C}

19 Yeltsin is terrified about dark (8) SINISTER [T]

20 Partly concealed hole on Iyer's  blue underwear (7) ?O?I?R? (Addendum - HOSIERY {HOle}{IYERS*} - See comments)

22 Rich and mostly lively city (6) RANCHI {RICH+ANd}*

24 Starts to quit using after knees essentially tremble (5) QUAKE Acrostic

27 Contend with women's opinion (4) VIEW {VIE}{W}

Reference List

Pass = COL, Recipe = R, Small = S, English = E, Time = T, Second = MO, Basic test = Ph, Girl = G, LASS, Mobile = M, Posh = U, College = C, Women = W

No 14446, Monday 31 Mar 2025, Dr. X

EID MUBARAK

Artwork by Prasanna

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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Muddled novelist urged to become eloquent (6-7) SILVER-TONGUED*

8   Grandma's pickle contains savoury jelly (5) ASPIC [T]

9   Nationalistic film about a tense rebellion (9) PATRIOTIC {P{A}{T}{RIOT}IC}

11 Versatile cricketer's ordeal - run out after crossing fifty (3-7) ALL-ROUNDER {ORDEAL+RUN}* over {L}

12 European drunkard consuming cocaine (4) SCOT {S{C}OT}

14 Group beginning to sell pastries outside English college (7) SPECIES {Sell}{P{E}{C}IES}

16 European maiden and prince misbehave around old ruler (7) EMPEROR {E}{M}{P}{ER{O}R}

17 Hairy Republican in fancy hotel suite (7) HIRSUTE {R} in {H+SUITE}*

19 Good detective endlessly following Mafia boss in Chinese county (7) DONGTAI {G}{TAIl}<=>{DON}

21 Ghetto in endless decline (4) SLUM SLUMp 

22 & 5 What competent carpenter will do to state the truth exactly (3,3,4,2,3,4) HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD [DD]

25 A place of vice and immorality in extremely obscure compound (9) ADENOSINE {A}{DEN}{Obs{SIN}curE}

26 Desire portrait featuring rebellious cowboy (5) ROPER [T<=]

27 Extra lithe guys attempt to conquer peak of Annapurna (13) SUPPLEMENTARY {SUPPLE}{MEN}{T{An...a}RY}

DOWN

2   Urge brat to exercise! Gaining pounds (7) I?P?L?E (Addendum - IMPULSE {IMP}{{U{L}SE} - See comments)

3   Successful opening of concert with virtuoso performing over island (10) VICTORIOUS {Co...t+VIRTUOSO}* over {I}

4   Revolutionary Irish writer becoming mellow (5) RIPEN {IR}<= {PEN}

5   See 22 Across

6   Gun-wielding leader of insurgents in carriage (4) GAIT {GA{In...t}T}

7   Charmer in lodge entertaining chicks heartily (7) ENTICER {ENT{chICks}ER}

8   Loss of sensation in a peasant, he is strangely losing power (11) ANAESTHESIA {A+pEASANT+HE+IS}*

10 Provide support and grub (11) CATERPILLAR {CATER}{PILLAR}

13 Creep cavorting with steno? Private matter that's known to many (4,6) OPEN SECRET {CREEP+STENO}*

15 Doctor is tireless, working to save patient at centre (9) STERILISE {TIRELESS}* over }{patIent}

18 Character stealing posh, gold pile of coins (7) ROULEAU {RO{U}LE}{AU}

20 Hiker runs, bitten by monkey (7) TRAMPER {T{R}AMPER}

23 Tree collapsed outside hotel at that place (5) THERE {T{H}ERE*}

24 Move back to South African village (4) DORP<=

Reference List

Tense = T, Fifty = L, Cocaine = C, English = E, College = C, European = E, Maiden =[ M, Prince = P, Old = O, Hotel = H, Good = G, Pounds = L, Island = I, Power = P, Posh = U, Runs = R, Irish = Ir

No 12501, Wednesday 19 Dec 2018, Arden

ACROSS
1   Central awards returned — ‘waapsi’ had some downside (8) DRAWBACK {aWARDs}<={BACK}
5   Being divine, comes back in calcified state (6) DEIFIC [T<=]
10 Ideal pressure for gas filled area (7) PARAGON {P}{AR{A}GON}
11 Carries daily — essentially it's a wind catcher (7) LUGSAIL {LUGS}{dAILy}

12 Fast way to have limited internet access (5) SWIFT {S{WIFi}T}
13 Spooner's bluster — key to get some food (5,4) ROAST BEEF (-b+r){ROAST} (-r+b){BEEF}
14 Visible shades of physical violence (5,3,4) BLACK AND BLUE [CD]
18 Rate winner as an opportunistic politician (12) CARPETBAGGER {CARPET}{BAGGER}
21 Conductor's opera, twice in retirement (9) TOSCANINI {TOSCA}{IN<=}{IN<=}
23 A doctor caught in an embrace by another in a dance (5) MAMBO {M{A}{MB}O}
24 Propeller breaks sound barrier, making noise (7) ROARING {R{OAR}ING}
25 Keep away as one's not on time (7) ISOLATE {1}{SO LATE}
26 Not taking sides, gets here — one's ageless (6) ETERNE {gETs}{hERe}{oNEs}
27 GOI takes part spreading political leader's propaganda (8) AGITPROP {GOI+PART}*{Po...l}

DOWN
1   Swear and throw out (6) DEPOSE [DD]
2   Winding road, it makes one dexterous (6) ADROIT*
3   Game of no significance (9) BAGATELLE [DD]
4   Go to link, pick right game (8,6) CONTRACT BRIDGE {CONT{R}ACT} {BRIDGE}
6   Work done to grow, but it may affect plant growth (5) ERGOT {ERG}{TO<=}
7   Whips the girl found to be below standard (8) FLAGELLA {FLAG}{ELLA}
8   You get them as you become timid (4,4) COLD FEET [CD]
9   Get bail in gang-rape trial through this, perhaps (4,10) PLEA-BARGAINING {IN+BAIL+GANG+RAPE}* Semi&lit
15 Who every woman would like to have met aboard, in other words (9) DREAMBOAT*
16 Way to go without paying any penalty (4,4) SCOT FREE [CD]
17 Doctor agreed to come onboard for the event (8) DRESSAGE {DRE{SS}AGE*}

19 Whimper when partly exposed, wind can harm (6) IMPAIR {whIMPer}{AIR}
20 Exercise, individual input on the rise (4,2) TONE UP {T{ONE}UP<=}
22 Strange that one has to cover falsehood (5) ALIEN {A{LIE}N}

GRID