Crossword Genius

Spotted after a bishop avoided voting (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abstained

'avoided voting' is the definition.

'spotted after a bishop' is the wordplay.
'spotted' becomes 'stained' ('stain' can be a synonym of 'spot').
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'bishop' becomes 'B' (abbreviation used in chess).
'a'+'b'='ab'
'stained' after 'ab' is 'ABSTAINED'.

(Other definitions for abstained that I've seen before include "went on the wagon" , "kept dry" , "was non-committal" , "chose not to vote" , "avoided port?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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