What does the cryptic crossword clue "Drove away and broke down over a period of time (9)" mean?

The definition is "Drove away". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). DIED (synonym of "broke down") + SPELL (synonym of "period of time"); definition: "Drove away" The answer is DISPELLED.

Drove away and broke down over a period of time (9)

Guardian Cryptic #28994 | 11 Across | 2023-02-15 flower

← Back to puzzle

Visit Guardian's puzzle site →