Crossword Genius

Alien female's number (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ether

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

'alien female's' is the wordplay.
'alien' becomes 'et' (extra terrestrial).
'female' becomes 'her' (I've seen this before).
'et'+'her'='ETHER'

(Other definitions for ether that I've seen before include "Gas - air - space" , "An early anaesthetic" , "Anaesthetic liquid; clear sky" , "It could knock you out" , "I'm volatile" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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