Crossword Genius

Rates: tiniest payment settled up (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tempi

'rates' is the definition.
(tempo is a kind of rate)

'tiniest payment settled up' is the wordplay.
'tiniest payment' becomes 'ip' (1p, one penny**).
'settled' becomes 'met' (I've seen this in other clues).
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'ip'+'met'='ipmet'
'ipmet' in reverse letter order is 'TEMPI'.

(Other definitions for tempi that I've seen before include "Speeds (music)" , "Times" , "Beats" , "Rates" , "Speed controls" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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