Crossword Genius

Awfully silly to a true friend? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

loyalist

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

'true friend?' is the definition.
'loyalist' can be an answer for 'friend?' (loyalist is a kind of friend). I'm not sure about the 'true' bit.

'awfully silly to a' is the wordplay.
'awfully' indicates anagramming the letters.
'silly'+'to'+'a'='sillytoa'
'sillytoa' is an anagram of 'LOYALIST'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for loyalist that I've seen before include "Patriotic supporter" , "One staying in support of a ruler or government" , "Supporter of union between G Britain and N Ireland" , "One supporting established government" , "Patriot" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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