Crossword Genius

Complaint that may be socially acceptable in time (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ague

'complaint' is the definition.
(ague is a kind of disease)

'socially acceptable in time' is the wordplay.
'socially acceptable' becomes 'u'.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'time' becomes 'age' (age is a kind of time).
'u' put within 'age' is 'AGUE'.

'that may be' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ague that I've seen before include "Sickness" , "Feverish fit" , "met with cheek in Twelfth Night" , "Hot and cold fever" , "Fit of the shakes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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