Crossword Genius

Dull keys to study (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deaden

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'dull' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'keys to study' is the wordplay.
'keys' becomes 'de' (I've seen this in other clues).
'to study' becomes 'aden' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'de'+'aden'='DEADEN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for deaden that I've seen before include "Make numb, deprive of feeling" , "Check" , "dull" , "Kill" , "Muffle, deprive of feeling" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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