Crossword Genius

Quality setter runs with it (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

merit

'quality' is the definition.
(merit is a kind of quality)

'setter runs with it' is the wordplay.
'setter' becomes 'me' (the setter of the clue).
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'me'+'r'+'it'='MERIT'

(Other definitions for merit that I've seen before include "Advantage" , "Deserve or warrant" , "Excellence, worth" , "distinction" , "Value" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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