Crossword Genius

Consecrated area in outskirts of Samarkand (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sacred

'consecrated' is the definition.
(I know that consecrated can be written as sacred)

'area in outskirts of samarkand' is the wordplay.
'area' becomes 'acre' (I've seen this before).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'outskirts of' suggests removing the centre (only letters on the outskirts).
'samarkand' with its centre taken out is 'sd'.
'acre' placed within 'sd' is 'SACRED'.

(Other definitions for sacred that I've seen before include "not to be interfered with?" , "Holy, blessed" , "Religious" , "Sanctified" , "Hallowed, consecrated" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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