For jocular remarks one's devoured by diabolical serpent, alas! (12)

I believe the answer is:

pleasantries

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'for jocular remarks' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'one's devoured by diabolical serpent alas' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'devoured by' is an insertion indicator.
'diabolical' indicates an anagram.
'serpent'+'alas'='serpentalas'
'serpentalas' anagrammed gives 'pleasantres'.
'i' going within 'pleasantres' is 'PLEASANTRIES'.

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(Other definitions for pleasantries that I've seen before include "polite conversation" , "Polite, agreeable, remarks" , "Polite comments" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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