Crossword Genius

Cat, nine, spoiling antique (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ancient

'antique' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'cat nine spoiling' is the wordplay.
'spoiling' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cat'+'nine'='catnine'
'catnine' anagrammed gives 'ANCIENT'.

(Other definitions for ancient that I've seen before include "Of times long past" , "over the hill" , "Antediluvian" , "from Aristophanes' time" , "Bygone" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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