What does the cryptic crossword clue "Caligula's so cruel, almost to the end (3)" mean?

The definition is "Caligula’s so". The wordplay uses a deletion. SIC (deletion) = SIC; definition: "Caligula's so" The answer is SIC.

Caligula's so cruel, almost to the end (3)

Times Cryptic #28801 | 7 Across | 2024-01-01 flower