Former partner abandoned pet, evil 'xxxx'! (9)

I believe the answer is:

expletive

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'xxxx' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'former partner abandoned pet evil' is the wordplay.
'former partner' becomes 'ex' (an ex-partner).
'abandoned' indicates anagramming the letters (the original order is abandoned).
'pet'+'evil'='petevil'
'petevil' anagrammed gives 'pletive'.
'ex'+'pletive'='EXPLETIVE'

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(Other definitions for expletive that I've seen before include "I expel vet with obscene exclamation" , "Swearword" , "Dirty word" , "Swear word" , "oath" .)

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