Crossword Genius

Lying urban reformer's promise may be this (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crossword

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'be this' is the definition.
(the crossword currently being solved is an example)

'lying urban reformer's promise' is the wordplay.
'lying urban reformer's' becomes 'cross' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'promise' becomes 'word' (as in 'I give you my word').
'cross'+'word'='CROSSWORD'

'may' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crossword that I've seen before include "Letter puzzle" , "(Usually) black and white puzzle" , "Cruciverbal test" , "this, appropriately" , "See 8, 20 ac, 1, 15 dn" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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