Crossword Genius

Cloud spotter spies swirling fog (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pessimist

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'cloud spotter' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'spies swirling fog' is the wordplay.
'swirling' indicates an anagram (letters get swirled around).
'fog' becomes 'mist' (mist is a kind of fog).
'spies' anagrammed gives 'pessi'.
'pessi'+'mist'='PESSIMIST'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pessimist that I've seen before include "Half-empty-glass person" , "One sees the glass as always being half-empty" , "The glass is always half-empty for this type" , "Glass-half-empty person" , "one anticipating the worst" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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