Crossword Genius

Caught short, perhaps (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

contracted

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This might be a double definition.

'caught' is the first definition.
(to catch an illness is to contract it)

'short perhaps' is the second definition.
'contracted' can be an answer for 'short' (thesaurus). I am not certain of the 'perhaps' bit.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for contracted that I've seen before include "Formally agreed; shrank" , "Got shorter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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