Crossword Genius

A king beset by a depravity - - greed (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

avarice

'greed' is the definition.
(avarice is a kind of greed)

'a king beset by a depravity' is the wordplay.
'a king' becomes 'ar' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'beset by' indicates putting letters inside ('beset' could historically mean 'cover').
'depravity' becomes 'vice' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'vice'='avice'
'ar' going inside 'avice' is 'AVARICE'.

(Other definitions for avarice that I've seen before include "Excessive greed for wealth" , "A deadly sin" , "Stinginess" , "Eager desire" , "Greed, covetousness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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