Crossword Genius

Index Pete devised as means to an end (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

expedient

'means to an end' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'index pete devised' is the wordplay.
'devised' indicates an anagram.
'index'+'pete'='indexpete'
'indexpete' is an anagram of 'EXPEDIENT'.

'as' is the link.

(Other definitions for expedient that I've seen before include "scheme" , "Convenient rather than right" , "Suited to the circumstances" , "something for emergency use" , "Means to get" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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