Crossword Genius

Father figure nowadays (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dad

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

'father figure' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'nowadays' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'nowadays' could be 'ad' (AD, Anno Domini, as opposed to BC, Before Christ) and 'ad' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'd' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dad that I've seen before include "Popular father - a palindrome" , "Father, in short" , "Popular and informal father" , "Old man" , "Mum's mate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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