Crossword Genius

Ruin regularly leads writer to mature (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ripen

'mature' is the definition.
(to ripen is to mature)

'ruin regularly leads writer' is the wordplay.
'regularly' indicates alternate letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'leads' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (some letters go in front of others).
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
The alternate letters of 'ruin' are 'ri'.
'ri'+'pen'='RIPEN'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for ripen that I've seen before include "Mature, develop" , "Season" , "Get ready for 2" , "Make ready" , "Develop fully" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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