Crossword Genius

Copper assesses clergymen (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

curates

'clergymen' is the definition.
(I know this)

'copper assesses' is the wordplay.
'copper' becomes 'Cu' (chemical symbol).
'assesses' becomes 'rates' (rating is a kind of assessing).
'cu'+'rates'='CURATES'

(Other definitions for curates that I've seen before include "Servicemen" , "clerical workers" , "Members of the clergy" , "Clerics" , "Vicars' seconds" .)

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