Crossword Genius

Control Greek character with pistol in rising (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

regulate

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'control' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'greek character with pistol in rising' is the wordplay.
'greek character' becomes 'eta' (letter from the Greek alphabet).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'pistol in' becomes 'luger' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'rising' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in a down clue).
'eta'+'luger'='etaluger'
'etaluger' written backwards gives 'REGULATE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for regulate that I've seen before include "exercise control" , "Ate gruel (anag.)" , "Police" , "Control, supervise" , "Control, manage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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