Crossword Genius

Disallow the final scourge (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bane

'scourge' is the definition.
('bane' can be a synonym of 'scourge')

'disallow the final' is the wordplay.
'disallow' becomes 'ban' (banning is a kind of disallowing**).
'final' suggests the final letters.
The final letter of 'the' is 'e'.
'ban'+'e'='BANE'

(Other definitions for bane that I've seen before include "Cause of great distress, rhymes with rule" , "scourge" , "Blight" , "Cause of trouble or anxiety" , "A fatal poison" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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