Crossword Genius

From the start regret being honest (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

true

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'honest' is the definition.
(I know that honest can be written as true)

'from the start regret' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
'regret' could be 'rue' (to rue something is to regret it) and 'rue' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'being' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for true that I've seen before include "Exact, factual" , "indeed" , "Rightly so called" , "Unfeigned" , "Real, actual" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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