Crossword Genius

Condition Lawrence gets ahead of with will? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

testate

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'will?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'condition lawrence gets ahead of' is the wordplay.
'condition' becomes 'state' (the state something is in).
'lawrence' becomes 'TE' (initials of TE Lawrence aka Lawrence of Arabia).
'gets ahead of' says to put letters next to each other.
'state' after 'te' is 'TESTATE'.

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for testate that I've seen before include "Person willing" , "Having made a legal will" , "Dying with a will" , "State of having made a will" , "Having made a will before death" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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