Crossword Genius

Communication initially stalled between myself and Herb (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

message

'communication' is the definition.
(a message is something communicated)

'initially stalled between myself and herb' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'between' is an insertion indicator.
'myself' becomes 'me'.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'herb' becomes 'sage' (sage is a kind of herb).
The first letter of 'stalled' is 's'.
'me'+'sage'='mesage'
's' placed into 'mesage' is 'MESSAGE'.

(Other definitions for message that I've seen before include "Communication that is sent" , "Verbal or written communication" , "Signal" , "Missive" , "Tidings" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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