Crossword Genius

French are to inform and answer girl (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

estella

'girl' is the definition.

'french are to inform and answer' is the wordplay.
'french are' becomes 'es' ('are' in French).
'to inform' becomes 'tell' (telling is a kind of informing).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'answer' becomes 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A).
'es'+'tell'+'a'='ESTELLA'

(Other definitions for estella that I've seen before include "girl loved by Pip" , "Pip's love (Great Expectations)" , "Sale let (anag) - girl's name" , "Dickensian character" , "Magwitch's daughter (Dickens)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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