Crossword Genius

Be undersized and run down (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

belittle

'run down' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'be undersized' is the wordplay.
'undersized' becomes 'little' (similar in meaning).
'be'+'little'='BELITTLE'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for belittle that I've seen before include "Disparage - minimise" , "Imply that person or thing is unimportant" , "Denigrate, disparage" , "Make to seem unimportant" , "abuse" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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