Times Cryptic #29366

2025-10-21

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Across

1a

Grace shown by Asian American holding line (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

THA~I (Asian) + A (American) containing [holding] L (line).  In Greek mythology she is one of the three Graces. NHO or forgotten.

5a

Feast includes large French pear (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

B~ANQUET (feast) contains [includes] L (large). NHO.

9a

Old song track introduced by Harry (5,3)

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10a

Former principal governor in Byzantine Empire (6)

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11a

To some extent help a south Texan city (2,4)

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12a

One with honour caught extremely immoral English fool (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

I (one), MBE (honour), C (caught), I{mmora}L [extremely], E (English)

14a

Neighbour of ours sadly pelted another after losing ring (3,3,6)

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17a

PM no longer hiding Adrian Mills (6,6)

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20a

Keep isn't commonly taken by sea (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

AIN’T (isn’t commonly) contained [taken] by M~AIN (sea)

22a

Link between law and ethics is embraced by progressive characters among New World company promoters (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

IS contained [embraced] by N{ew} + {w}O{rld} + {co}M{pany} ~ {pro}M{oters} [progressive characters 1,2,3& 4 among…]. NHO or forgotten.

23a

Warming effect of working online (2,4)

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25a

With which you could preserve form in Oxford, say (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

Cryptic with reference to Oxford as a type of shoe

26a

Sign of distress surrounding British Conservative's woeful excuse? (3,5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

SO~S (sign of distress) containing [surrounding] B (British), then TORY (Conservative)

27a

Evil curses causing smash in Ecuador once (6)

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Down

2d

Ring Hollywood area? Fair game (4-2)

Generating...
3d

Bygone royalist clan upset over errant tsarina (11)

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4d

Stellar group from capital departs having broken a confidentiality contract (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

ROME (capital) + D (departs) contained by [having broken] A + ND~A (confidentiality contract – non-disclosure agreement)

5d

Live, endless country dance (7)

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6d

Maple shrub, black, bitter and sour (5)

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7d

By virtue of being queen, starts to use authority (3)

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8d

Liberal journalist supporting Microsoft app was exceptionally good (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

EXCEL (Microsoft app), L (Liberal), ED (journalist)

13d

Magnetic cleaner's current checked by brief test, maybe (11)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

CHAR (cleaner), IS (’s), then I (current) contained [checked] by MAT~C{h} (test, maybe – cricket) [brief]

15d

Shameful pun used randomly around party (9)

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16d

Sunken carving of hind (centrally), stag (mostly to the right) and lion (mostly to the left) (8)

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18d

Pardon me for keeping top in numerous unopened foul clothes (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

{n}A~STY (foul) [unopened] contains [clothes] M~E containing [keeping] N{umerous} [top]

19d

Jewish ascetic being freed of cold (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

ESSEN{c}E (being) [freed of cold]. I was going to add this to the list of NHOs, but I see it has come up several times previously.

21d

Not quite over Oscar from the start (2,3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

ABOV{e} (over) [not quite], O (Oscar). Ditto my comment at 19dn.

24d

Doubts diffuse every so often (3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:

{d}I{f}F{u}S{e} [every so often]