Crossword Genius

Answer after president's given short shrift (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

absolution

'shrift' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'answer after president's given short' is the wordplay.
'answer' becomes 'solution' (synonyms).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'president' becomes 'abe' (Abraham (Abe) Lincoln).
'given short' means to remove the last letter (the word presented in a shortened form).
'abe' with its final letter taken off is 'ab'.
'solution' after 'ab' is 'ABSOLUTION'.

(Other definitions for absolution that I've seen before include "acquittal" , "Release from guilt" , "Forgiveness" , "discharge" , "pardon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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