20 across
Private
put
in
grave
situation
backed
foreign
ruler
(8)
Private put in grave situation backed foreign ruler (8)
hints
0
checks
0
hints
The definition is at the beginning of the clue.
How the clue works
Private is the definition, as in inner or interior. Start with INTER (to bury, i.e. "put in grave"), then add ROI (French for king, a foreign ruler) reversed to give IOR — "backed" is the reversal indicator. Together they make INTERIOR.