Crossword Genius

Starting price anticipating terminal pay-out (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spend

'pay-out' is the definition.

'starting price anticipating terminal' is the wordplay.
'starting price' becomes 'sp'.
'anticipating' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'terminal' becomes 'end' (I've seen this in other clues).
'sp'+'end'='SPEND'

(Other definitions for spend that I've seen before include "Use up (one's resources)" , "Outlay" , "amount" , "Run through" , "Pass (time) in a specified way" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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