Crossword Genius

Should have purchased missing top (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ought

'should' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'purchased missing top' is the wordplay.
'purchased' becomes 'bought' ('buy' can be a synonym of 'purchase').
'missing top' means to remove the first letter.
'bought' with its initial letter taken off is 'OUGHT'.

'have' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ought that I've seen before include "outdated anything at all?" , "Has a duty (to do something)" , "Be logically necessary" , "Strange thing" , "Verb implying duty; zero, nothing (archaic)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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