Crossword Genius

Criminal never had respect (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

venerate

'respect' is the definition.
(venerating is a kind of respecting)

'criminal never had' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates anagramming the letters.
'had' becomes 'ate' (e.g. I had an ice cream).
'never' anagrammed gives 'vener'.
'vener'+'ate'='VENERATE'

(Other definitions for venerate that I've seen before include "Regard with reverence" , "Regard with deep respect or worship" , "Revere highly" , "Think a great deal of" , "Treat with respect" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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