Crossword Genius

Confused chapter about the ear holding answer (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chaotic

'confused' is the definition.
(confused can mean chaotic or muddled)

'chapter about the ear holding answer' is the wordplay.
'chapter' becomes 'ch'.
'about the ear' becomes 'otic' (I've seen this before).
'holding' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'answer' becomes 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A).
'ch'+'otic'='chotic'
'chotic' enclosing 'a' is 'CHAOTIC'.

(Other definitions for chaotic that I've seen before include "Topsy-turvy" , "Confused, disordered" , "in random order" , "Totally disorganised" , "Anarchic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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