Crossword Genius

A return of fliers from some distance away (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

afar

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'distance away' is the definition.
'afar' can be an answer for 'distance' (I have seen 'great distance' mean 'afar' so perhaps 'distance' could also mean 'afar'). I am not sure about the 'away' bit.

'a return of fliers from some' is the wordplay.
'a return of' says the letters should be written backwards.
'fliers' becomes 'raf'.
'from' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'some' becomes 'a'.
'raf'+'a'='rafa'
'rafa' written backwards gives 'AFAR'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for afar that I've seen before include "from baseline to baseline?" , "Remote" , "Pull out at a distance" , "A long distance away" , "long way back" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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