Crossword Genius

The ex who's keeping one waiting (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

late

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the ex' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)

'keeping one waiting' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'one' could be 'a' (a thing is one thing) and 'a' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'lte' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'who's' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for late that I've seen before include "Far into the night" , "Having bought it" , "No longer alive; tardy" , "Previous" , "In arrears" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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