Crossword Genius

Current delay is over - without it having started (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

initiated

'started' is the definition.
(initiating is a kind of starting)

'current delay is over without it' is the wordplay.
'current' becomes 'i' (symbol for electric current).
'delay' becomes 'detain' ('detain' can be a synonym of 'delay'**).
'is over' is a reversal indicator.
'without' is an insertion indicator ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'detain' back-to-front is 'niated'.
'niated' going around 'it' is 'nitiated'.
'i'+'nitiated'='INITIATED'

'having' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for initiated that I've seen before include "Those admitted into the mysteries" , "Began" , "Started" , "Accepted into a group by way of a ritual" , "Begun" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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