Crossword Genius

Declare answer extremely short (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aver

'declare' is the definition.
(averring is a kind of declaring)

'answer extremely short' is the wordplay.
'answer' becomes 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A).
'extremely short' becomes 'ver' (I've seen this in other clues).
'a'+'ver'='AVER'

(Other definitions for aver that I've seen before include "State; say" , "Vera could declare to be true" , "Maintain - assert - allege" , "Say firmly, rave if necessary" , "claim" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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