Crossword Genius

First Monday I say I see clothing with a disease-causing bacterium (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

microbe

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

'a disease-causing bacterium' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'first monday i say i see clothing' is the wordplay.
'first monday' becomes 'm' (ist letter of 'monday').
'i say i' becomes 'ic' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'see clothing' becomes 'robe' (robe is a kind of clothing).
'm'+'ic'+'robe'='MICROBE'

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for microbe that I've seen before include "Disease-causing bacterium" , "Bug, germ" , "minor cause for complaint" , "Bacterium, for example" , "Bacillus" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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