Crossword Genius

Look up "subsistence" (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

keep

'subsistence' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'look up' is the wordplay.
'look' becomes 'peek' (peek is a kind of look).
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'peek' back-to-front is 'KEEP'.

(Other definitions for keep that I've seen before include "Board and lodging" , "Eg, beef" , "strong position" , "Castle tower; cost of maintenance" , "Save" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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