Crossword Genius

Severer form of restraint (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reserve

'restraint' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'severer form' is the wordplay.
'form' indicates anagramming the letters (another form of the letters).
'severer' is an anagram of 'RESERVE'.

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for reserve that I've seen before include "Save" , "Modesty- store" , "some distance" , "put to one side" , "keep for oneself" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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