Crossword Genius

Found cipher kit in a note (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

originate

'found' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'cipher kit in a note' is the wordplay.
'cipher' becomes 'o' (old-fashioned term for zero).
'kit' becomes 'rig' (I've seen this before).
'note' becomes 'te' (**).
'o'+'rig'+'in'+'a'+'te'='ORIGINATE'

(Other definitions for originate that I've seen before include "Arise, start" , "In spring" , "pioneer" , "Set up" , "Found" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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