Crossword Genius

Declines turning up to take in service full of fire (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spirited

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'declines turning up to take in service full of fire' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'declines turning up to take in service full' is the wordplay.
'declines' becomes 'dips' (dipping is a kind of declining).
'turning up' says the letters should be written backwards.
'to take in' is an insertion indicator.
'service full' becomes 'rite' (a religious service. I am not sure about the 'full' bit.).
'dips' reversed gives 'spid'.
'spid' enclosing 'rite' is 'SPIRITED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spirited that I've seen before include "Energetic, animated" , "Riptides of lively kind" , "Sparkling" , "Full of energy and enthusiasm" , "Vivacious" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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