Crossword Genius

Initially nice old boy, the French aristocrat (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

noble

'aristocrat' is the definition.
(I know that noble is a type of male aristocrat)

'initially nice old boy the french' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'old boy' becomes 'OB' (abbreviation for a private school 'old boy').
'the french' becomes 'le' ('the' in French).
The initial letter of 'nice' is 'n'.
'n'+'ob'+'le'='NOBLE'

(Other definitions for noble that I've seen before include "Dignified" , "Illustrious - of high birth - old gold coin" , "Illustrious - old money" , "Stately" , "gold coin, now obsolete" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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