Crossword Genius

Desert son in big way? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sinai

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'desert' is the definition.
(I know that Sinai is a desert)

'son in big way?' is the wordplay.
'son' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation for son).
'big way?' becomes 'ai' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
's'+'in'+'ai'='SINAI'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sinai that I've seen before include "place to receive instructions about behaviour" , "Peninsula, mostly desert, at north end of Red Sea" , "Biblical mount" , "One showing genetic change" , "Deserted area" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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