Crossword Genius

Assemble before empty court (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

erect

'assemble' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'before empty court' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (usually literary).
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'court' with its middle removed is 'ct'.
'ere'+'ct'='ERECT'

(Other definitions for erect that I've seen before include "Upright; construct" , "Build - straight up" , "Standing straight" , "Build, put up" , "Upstanding" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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