Crossword Genius

Figure neon anew to be a gaseous element (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

xenon

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'a gaseous element' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'figure neon anew' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'x' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'anew' indicates an anagram.
'neon' with letters rearranged gives 'enon'.
'x'+'enon'='XENON'

'to be' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for xenon that I've seen before include "Noble gas used in lamps" , "Noble element" , "member of nobility?" , "Inert gas, Xe" , "Inert 18" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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