Crossword Genius

Sleeping duke matron treated (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dormant

'sleeping' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'duke matron treated' is the wordplay.
'duke' becomes 'd'.
'treated' indicates an anagram.
'matron' with letters rearranged gives 'ormant'.
'd'+'ormant'='DORMANT'

(Other definitions for dormant that I've seen before include "Latent" , "Suspended" , "asleep" , "Temporarily quiet" , "Inactive, but not dead" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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