Crossword Genius

Pretend to have influence (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

affect

This clue is a double definition.

'pretend to' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)

'influence' is the second definition.
(I know that influence is a more specific form of the action affect)

'have' is the link.

(Other definitions for affect that I've seen before include "front" , "Make impression on or arouse sympathy in" , "It always has a cause" , "impress" , "Touch (feelings); pretend (to feel)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph, The Times, The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app