Crossword Genius

Gangster getting mean makes one suffer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

allow

'one suffer' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'gangster getting mean' is the wordplay.
'gangster' becomes 'al' (Al Capone).
'getting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'mean' becomes 'low' (I've seen this before).
'al'+'low'='ALLOW'

'makes' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for allow that I've seen before include "OK" , "Licence" , "Sanction" , "Permit or concede" , "Permit or agree" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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