Crossword Genius

After midnight a party-giver produces the spirit (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ghost

'the spirit' is the definition.
(spirit can mean a ghost)

'after midnight a party-giver' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'midnight' becomes 'g' (the middle letter in 'night').
'a party-giver' becomes 'host' (I've seen this in another clue).
'g'+'host' is 'GHOST'.

'produces' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ghost that I've seen before include "Visible manifestation of a dead person" , "Spectre, wraith" , "Supernatural apparition" , "One's dying to" , "Spirit, spectre" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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