Crossword Genius

Always bad keeping time (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

immortal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'always bad keeping time' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.

'bad keeping time' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'time' could be 't' (abbreviation) and 't' is present in the answer.
'bad' could be 'immoral' (synonyms) and 'immoral' is found in the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for immortal that I've seen before include "Living for ever" , "Living forever" , "God" , "Moral Tim (anag.)" , "never to be forgotten" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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