No pilgrim could be begging (9)

I believe the answer is:

imploring

'begging' is the definition.
('implore' can be a synonym of 'beg')

'no pilgrim could be' is the wordplay.
'could be' indicates an anagram.
'no'+'pilgrim'='nopilgrim'
'nopilgrim' anagrammed gives 'IMPLORING'.

(Another definition for imploring that I've seen is " begging".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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