Start late or delay evening out. So aristocratic! (6)
I believe the answer is:
lordly
'aristocratic' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'start late or delay evening out' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'late' could be 'd' and 'd' is present in the answer.
'or' is found in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'so' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lordly that I've seen before include "high-handed" , "Haughty, lofty" , "Aristocratic" , "Proud" , "Acting like a peer of the realm" .)