Crossword Genius

Readmit city, oddly absent in decree (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

edict

'decree' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'readmit city oddly absent' is the wordplay.
'oddly absent' means one should take alternating letters (odd-numbered letters removed).
'readmit'+'city'='readmitcity'
The alternating letters of 'readmitcity' are 'EDICT'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for edict that I've seen before include "Injunction" , "Canon" , "Order issued by an authority" , "Authoritative decree" , "An official command" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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