Crossword Genius

Start of church ceremony broadcast raised standards (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

criteria

'standards' is the definition.
('criterion' can be a synonym of 'standard')

'start of church ceremony broadcast raised' is the wordplay.
'start of' indicates taking the first letters.
'ceremony' becomes 'rite' (rite is a kind of ceremony).
'broadcast' becomes 'air' ('air' can be a synonym of 'broadcast'**).
'raised' says the letters should be written backwards.
The initial letter of 'church' is 'c'.
'air' backwards is 'ria'.
'c'+'rite'+'ria'='CRITERIA'

(Other definitions for criteria that I've seen before include "Standards by which things measured" , "Standards for assessment" , "'Standards, reference points (8)'" , "Principles on which to base a judgment" , "Ideals" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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