Rule covering relative in old school exam

Latest answer — September 15, 2026

1 Down

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Clue explained

GOVERNANCE means “rule” or the exercise of authority. The clue’s surface suggests an old school examination, while “covering relative” points to the governing or controlling relationship expressed by the answer; the wordplay is loose rather than a strict letter construction.

Clue type:
Definition
A formal meeting representing governance and administration.

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 15, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Stifling regrets, try this compiler: horrible
  2. 5Being family good for making requests
  3. 9Furious former soldier stopped by well-built guys
  4. 10Blows that hurt singer almost making a comeback
  5. 12Unlikely key that is used by surfer
  6. 15With British leaving, abandon a vessel
  7. 16Play area patrolled by tiny tailless cat
  8. 17Check modern car part, finally contact manufacturer
  9. 19Annoy US deputy, bouncing back with energy
  10. 20Where tourists are welcome, seemingly to take weight off feet
  11. 22Treatment of mutual points changing character’s tone
  12. 23Steps in Havana hotel a vexation, artist concludes
  13. 25Daughter understands more than one phobia
  14. 26Old time dancing stage one

Down

  1. 1Rule covering relative in old school exam
  2. 2I don’t like that cough after poisonous gas dropped
  3. 3Carpet covered in Koranic verses in mainly Muslim island
  4. 4Militancy up, I worked out, in local government area
  5. 6Punch son, more irate by the sound of it
  6. 7In gentle light at first it may become bright
  7. 8Sign of aggression in boxer perhaps ultimately failing to develop
  8. 11Chivalrous man’s dark sin pierces philosopher
  9. 13Make a rule about conserving television’s current worth
  10. 14Confirmed louse possibly dismisses R&B
  11. 18Echo in two directions in circle
  12. 19Coloured hock bottles? Too dark now to see
  13. 21Working party ignoring leader of Supreme Court
  14. 24Name part of middle name

The answer to “Rule covering relative in old school exam” in the The Times Cryptic crossword is GOVERNANCE — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 15, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 1-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Rule covering relative in old school exam” answer

GOVERNANCE (10 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is GOVERNANCE.

What does GOVERNANCE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of GOVERNANCE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • the action or manner of governing a state, organization, etc.

When else has “Rule covering relative in old school exam” appeared?

The Times Cryptic reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 15, 2026 (most recent) → GOVERNANCE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Rule covering relative in old school exam”?

The answer is GOVERNANCE, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Rule covering relative in old school exam”?

10 letters: GOVERNANCE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 15, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 1-Down.

Can “Rule covering relative in old school exam” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Cryptic sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Times Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 15, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Times Cryptic Crossword is published by The Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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