Crossword Genius

Dagger child brought back without resistance (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dirk

'dagger' is the definition.
(dirk is a kind of dagger)

'child brought back without resistance' is the wordplay.
'child' becomes 'kid' ('kid' can be a synonym of 'child'**).
'brought back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'without' is an insertion indicator ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'resistance' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'kid' reversed gives 'dik'.
'dik' going around 'r' is 'DIRK'.

(Other definitions for dirk that I've seen before include "Daggert" , "Highland dagger" , "weapon" , "Duncan's killer?" , "Piercing instrument" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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