Crossword Genius

Encouragement given by nice vet in novel (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

incentive

'encouragement' is the definition.
(something incentivising certain behaviour)

'nice vet in novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' is an anagram indicator (letters in a new or novel order).
'nice'+'vet'+'in'='nicevetin'
'nicevetin' anagrammed gives 'INCENTIVE'.

'given by' is the link.

(Other definitions for incentive that I've seen before include "encouragement" , "Payment to improve" , "Stimulus" , "Motivating payment" , "Motivational reward" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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