Crossword Genius

Desire to give a man tea, we hear (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

covet

'desire' is the definition.
(I know that covet is a type of envy)

'give a man tea we hear' is the wordplay.
'give' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a man' becomes 'cove' (old-fashioned term for a man).
'we hear' shows a homophone (sound like).
'tea' is a homophone of 't'.
'cove' next to 't' is 'COVET'.

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for covet that I've seen before include "Yearn to possess (another's property)" , "Wish for something" , "Be envious" , "Envy" , "Long enviously (to have something)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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