Crossword Genius

Basic quality ultimately needed in lackey (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

underlying

'basic' is the definition.
('underlying' can be similar in meaning to 'basic')

'quality ultimately needed in lackey' is the wordplay.
'ultimately' suggests the final letters.
'needed in' is an insertion indicator.
'lackey' becomes 'underling' (I've seen this before).
The last letter of 'quality' is 'y'.
'y' placed into 'underling' is 'UNDERLYING'.

(Another definition for underlying that I've seen is " Basic".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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