Crossword Genius

Fighter, happy one attending common soldiers (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gladiator

'fighter' is the definition.
(gladiator is a kind of fighter)

'happy one attending common soldiers' is the wordplay.
'happy' becomes 'glad' ('glad' can be a synonym of 'happy').
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'attending' becomes 'at' (I've seen this in other clues).
'common soldiers' becomes 'or' (military abbreviation for 'other ranks').
'glad'+'i'+'at'+'or'='GLADIATOR'

(Other definitions for gladiator that I've seen before include "Circus performer" , "Warrior" , "Roman prize-fighter" , "Professional combatant in ancient Rome" , "Roman arena fighter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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