Crossword Genius

Arrive as stated at absorbing question: is it a fruit? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

kumquat

'a fruit?' is the definition.
(kumquat is a kind of fruit)

'arrive as stated at absorbing question is it' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'as' could be 'qua' (I've seen this before) and 'qua' is found within the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'kum' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

(Other definitions for kumquat that I've seen before include "Small orange-like fruit" , "Small Chinese orange" , "Asian citrus-like fruit" , "Chinese orange fruit" , "Small orange fruit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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