Crossword Genius

Rush meal, start to repent (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tear

'rush' is the definition.
(tearing is a kind of rushing)

'meal start to repent' is the wordplay.
'meal' becomes 'tea' (tea is a kind of meal).
'start to' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'repent' is 'r'.
'tea'+'r'='TEAR'

(Other definitions for tear that I've seen before include "Move quickly; pull apart" , "Lachrymal fluid" , "speed" , "Drop secreted by the lacrimal glands" , "A rip and a sign of sadness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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