Crossword Genius

Fool mistakenly taints aide (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

assistant

'aide' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'fool mistakenly taints' is the wordplay.
'fool' becomes 'ass' (ass is a kind of fool).
'mistakenly' is an anagram indicator.
'taints' anagrammed gives 'istant'.
'ass'+'istant'='ASSISTANT'

(Other definitions for assistant that I've seen before include "second" , "Attendant, helper" , "Aide, helper" , "help required?" , "Deputy, subordinate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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