Crossword Genius

Close to endless darkness (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nigh

'close to' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'endless darkness' is the wordplay.
'endless' means to remove the last letter.
'darkness' becomes 'night' (night is a period of darkness).
'night' with its last letter taken away is 'NIGH'.

(Other definitions for nigh that I've seen before include "old touch" , "in the vicinity?" , "Close at hand" , "Near; close" , "Nearby" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Times.
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