Crossword Genius

A darn bookend packed crookedly (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

askew

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'crookedly' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a darn bookend packed' is the wordplay.
'darn' becomes 'sew' (I've seen this in another clue).
'bookend' becomes 'k' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'packed' is an insertion indicator (some letters are packed into others).
'sew' enclosing 'k' is 'skew'.
'a'+'skew'='ASKEW'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for askew that I've seen before include "Not straight or level, crooked" , "Towards one side, awry" , "Wakes (anag)" , "Lopsided" , "Off-centre" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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