Crossword Genius

Captain given warning to turn back (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nemo

'captain' is the definition.
(character from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)

'warning to turn back' is the wordplay.
'warning' becomes 'omen' (omen can mean a warning or sign of the future).
'to turn back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (I've seen 'turning back' mean this).
'omen' back-to-front is 'NEMO'.

'given' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for nemo that I've seen before include "commander for the Nautilus" , "Literary captain" , "Fish sought in film" , "Jules Verne's submarine captain" , "Captain of the Nautilus" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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