Allaying suspicions when removing weapons? (9)
I believe the answer is:
disarming
'allaying' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are present participle verbs, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'suspicions when removing weapons?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'weapons?' could be 'disarm' (I have seen 'Abandon weapons ' mean 'disarm' so perhaps 'weapons' could also mean 'disarm') and 'disarm' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for disarming that I've seen before include "Having winning ways - or taking guns from" , "Winsome" .)