Crossword Genius

Lift unreliable ultimately, and yet to arrive? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

elate

'lift' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'unreliable ultimately and yet to arrive?' is the wordplay.
'ultimately' indicates one should take the final letters.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'yet to arrive?' becomes 'late' (I've seen this before).
The final letter of 'unreliable' is 'e'.
'e'+'late'='ELATE'

(Other definitions for elate that I've seen before include "Make happy or joyful" , "Bring joy" , "Doctor suitor to Anne Page (MWOW)" , "Excite" , "Overjoy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app