Crossword Genius

Drives in ancient city given good directions (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

urges

'drives' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'ancient city given good directions' is the wordplay.
'ancient city' becomes 'ur' (ancient Sumerian city state).
'given' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'good' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'directions' becomes 'Es' (east and south - two directions).
'ur'+'g'+'es'='URGES'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for urges that I've seen before include "Presses to do something" , "Drives" , "Advocates strongly" , "Inner promptings" , "Compulsions" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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