Crossword Genius

Drive away from party around half nine (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

banish

'drive away' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'party around half nine' is the wordplay.
'party' becomes 'bash' (bash is a kind of party**).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'half' means to take half the letters.
'nine' cut in half is 'ni'.
'bash' placed around 'ni' is 'BANISH'.

'from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for banish that I've seen before include "Send (someone) away" , "Exile (someone)" , "Throw out" , "Drive away, maybe from country" , "'Cast out, ostracise (6)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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