Crossword Genius

Botched manicure dreadful, ultimately, in digits? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

numerical

'in digits?' is the definition.
(using digits or numbers)

'botched manicure dreadful ultimately' is the wordplay.
'botched' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ultimately' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'dreadful' is 'l'.
'manicure' anagrammed gives 'numerica'.
'numerica'+'l'='NUMERICAL'

(Other definitions for numerical that I've seen before include "Using arithmetic values" , "of digits" , "Relating to quantity" , "Like Sudoku puzzles" , "Relating to such as 9 or 123" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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