Crossword Genius

Reviled old rogue? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

evildoer

'reviled old rogue?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'reviled old rogue?' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'rogue?' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'rogue' mean this).
'reviled'+'o'='reviledo'
'reviledo' with letters rearranged gives 'EVILDOER'.

(Other definitions for evildoer that I've seen before include "Rode live over morally bad person" , "Over idle (anag) - villain" , "miscreant" , "criminal!" , "One committing wicked deeds" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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