Once tried to become obscure (9)

I believe the answer is:

recondite

'obscure' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'once tried to become' is the wordplay.
'to become' indicates an anagram.
'once'+'tried'='oncetried'
'oncetried' with letters rearranged gives 'RECONDITE'.

(Other definitions for recondite that I've seen before include "(Of knowledge) obscure" , "Enigmatic" , "Direct one to be obscure or difficult" , "Mysterious" , "Abstruse" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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