Crossword Genius

Mean to declare advancing years? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

average

'mean' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'declare advancing years?' is the wordplay.
'declare' becomes 'aver' (averring is a kind of declaring).
'advancing years?' becomes 'age' (a person's age).
'aver'+'age'='AVERAGE'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for average that I've seen before include "Normal in arithmetic way" , "Normal; mean" , "Moderate" , "Medial" , "par" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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