Crossword Genius

Be an unoriginal essayist (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

retry

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'be' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for retry that I've seen before include "take second opinion on case" , "Put on trial again" , "Make a further attempt" , "Hear (a case) again" , "Advice following failure, initially" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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