Daily alphabet — 2026-09-15

Across

1. 2. Legal term for a plea asserting innocence of charges. (9)
2. 4. Prepare for a journey by gathering essentials (9)
3. 7. Common phrase for superior quality or excellence. (7)
4. 8. Controversial US diplomatic incident of the 1790s (9)
5. 10. Conflict over illegal substances (7)
6. 11. First name of Afro-Belarusian model and performer Kabangu. (4)
7. 12. Kevin who starred in Field of Dreams and Dances with Wolves (7)
8. 14. First name of al-Shammat, Syrian Minister of Social Affairs from 2013 to 2015 (5)
9. 16. This club famously won the Treble in 1999. (9)
10. 17. Inclined road leading to a major road (6)
11. 18. Monumental main library building located in Harvard Yard. (7)
12. 19. Past tense of taking a glance at something. (8)

Down

1. 1. Midfielder who plays for Manchester City and England (5)
2. 3. This star has played Gaston and a dragon in recent films. (9)
3. 5. Describing theories that involve human influence on the universe. (9)
4. 6. American model born in 2001 who is the daughter of Cindy Crawford (6)
5. 9. This child garnered media attention for his quick thinking in 2023. (9)
6. 13. Historical term used in the context of interracial marriage. (8)
7. 15. Second part of a literary series (6)