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During interval half of cast, note, needed a drink (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thirsted

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'needed a drink' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to consumption as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'during interval half of cast note' is the wordplay.
'during' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'interval' becomes 'third' (third is a kind of interval).
'half of cast note' becomes 'ste' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'third' enclosing 'ste' is 'THIRSTED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thirsted that I've seen before include "wanted a beer maybe" , "Yearned for, being dehydrated?" , "Yearned for, feeling parched" , "dying for a drink" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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