Crossword Genius

It's prudent to be endlessly polite, I see (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

politic

'it's prudent' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'endlessly polite i see' is the wordplay.
'endlessly' means to remove the last letter.
'see' becomes 'C' (the word for the letter, according to Chambers).
'polite' with its final letter removed is 'polit'.
'polit'+'i'+'c'='POLITIC'

'to be' is the link.

(Other definitions for politic that I've seen before include "Diplomatic" , "Expedient" , "Prudent, discreet" , "Advisable" , "artful" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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