Crossword Genius

Diana's edge initially disheartened the vulnerable (13)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

disadvantaged

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'vulnerable' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'diana's edge initially disheartened' is the wordplay.
'diana's' becomes 'Di's' (Di is short for Diana).
'edge' becomes 'advantage' (I've seen this before).
'initially disheartened' becomes 'd' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'dis'+'advantage'+'d'='DISADVANTAGED'

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for disadvantaged that I've seen before include "In unfavourable circumstances" , "Put in an unfavourable position" , "In deprived circumstances" , "Socially or economically deprived" , "Handicapped" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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