Crossword Genius

Country has open society rising? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

syria

'country' is the definition.
(Syria is an example)

'open society rising?' is the wordplay.
'open' becomes 'airy' (both can mean spacious).
'society' becomes 's' (common abbreviation in names of organisations).
'rising?' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in a down clue).
'airy'+'s'='airys'
'airys' written backwards gives 'SYRIA'.

'has' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for syria that I've seen before include "Mediterranean republic" , "Captain; omit; refuse container" , "St Paul's conversion happened on the road to its capital" , "Good judgement, knowledge" , "Country bordering Lebanon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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