Crossword Genius

Disown niece, oddly out of order (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ionic

'order' is the definition.
(order of classical architecture)

'disown niece oddly' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'disown'+'niece'='disownniece'
The alternating letters of 'disownniece' are 'IONIC'.

'out of' is the link.

(Other definitions for ionic that I've seen before include "Architectural order" , "Greek school" , "Support (a weight)" , "Old Greek" , "ancient order" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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