Crossword Genius

Deprived, before a volume is secured by qualified teacher (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bereaved

'deprived' is the definition.
(bereaving is a kind of depriving)

'before a volume is secured by qualified teacher' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term for 'before').
'volume' becomes 'v' (abbreviation for volume in book titles).
'is secured by' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or secured).
'qualified teacher' becomes 'BEd' (someone with a Bachelor of Education degree).
'ere'+'a'+'v'='ereav'
'ereav' put inside 'bed' is 'BEREAVED'.

(Other definitions for bereaved that I've seen before include "Having lost a loved one" , "Having lost someone very close" , "Beavered away at those mourning a death" , "Deprived by death, usually of a relative" , "Deprived by death as of a spouse" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app