Crossword Genius

Answer by half the people, or all of them (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

amen

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

'all of them' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'answer by half the people' is the wordplay.
'answer by' becomes 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A. I am not sure about the 'by' bit.).
'half the' indicates taking half.
'people' becomes 'bagmen' (bagman is a kind of person).
'bagmen' halved is 'men'.
'a'+'men'='AMEN'

'or' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for amen that I've seen before include "statement of affirmation" , "Final word in prayer" , "Name for prayer's end" , "Prayerful last word" , "prayer's ending" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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