Crossword Genius

Rational as painter ignoring the odds (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sane

'rational' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'as painter ignoring the odds' is the wordplay.
'ignoring the odds' means one should take alternating letters (letters in odd-numbered positions are removed).
'as'+'painter'='aspainter'
The alternate letters of 'aspainter' are 'SANE'.

(Other definitions for sane that I've seen before include "Healthy in mind" , "Free from mental disorder" , "In full possession of mental faculties" , "Sound in mind" , "Compos mentis" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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