Is rail service on time after duke's seizure? (9)
I believe the answer is:
distraint
'seizure?' is the definition.
(I know that distraint is a type of seizure)
'is rail service on time after duke's' is the wordplay.
'rail service' becomes 'train' (I've seen this before).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'duke' becomes 'd' (abbreviation).
'is'+'train' is 'istrain'.
'istrain'+'t'='istraint'
'istraint' put after 'd' is 'DISTRAINT'.
(Other definitions for distraint that I've seen before include "seizure of property" , "seizing goods" , "seizure of goods" , "seizing property legally" , "legal action against debtor" .)