Crossword Genius

Act of cruelty at part of Rome and Venice? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

atrocity

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'act of cruelty' is the definition.
'atrocity' can be an answer for 'cruelty' (atrocity is a kind of cruelty). I am unsure of the 'act of' bit.

'at part of rome and venice?' is the wordplay.
'part of rome' becomes 'ro' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'venice?' becomes 'city' (venice is a kind of city).
'at'+'ro'+'city'='ATROCITY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for atrocity that I've seen before include "Evil act" , "monstrous crime" , "Barbarous, inhuman act" , "Appalling act" , "villainy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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