Elastic’s dispatched with most plates (8)

I believe the answer is:

scaliest

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'elastic's dispatched with most plates' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'elastic's dispatched with most plates' is the wordplay.
'elastic's' anagrams to 'SCALIEST'.
However, I am unsure how this is indicated.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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