Crossword Genius

Envy beastly doctor in joint practice? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

covet

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

'envy' is the definition.
(I know that covet is a more specific form of the action envy)

'beastly doctor in joint practice?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'doctor' could be 'vet' (vet is a kind of doctor) and 'vet' is found within the answer.
'joint' could be 'co' (eg a co-leader is a joint leader) and 'co' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for covet that I've seen before include "Yearn to possess (an item owned by another)" , "Long enviously (to have something)" , "'Thou shalt not . . . . . thy neighbour's goods'" , "Desire (often someone else's property)" , "Be envious" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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