Crossword Genius

Domestic intercepted by oddly terse host (6,1)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maitre d

'host' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'domestic intercepted by oddly terse' is the wordplay.
'domestic' becomes 'maid' (maid is a kind of domestic).
'intercepted by' indicates putting letters inside (I've seen this in other clues).
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
The alternating letters of 'terse' are 'tre'.
'maid' placed around 'tre' is 'MAITRE D''.

(Other definitions for maitre d that I've seen before include "a man to supervise dinner" , "Host" , "one waiting" , "Head waiter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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