Crossword Genius

French revolutionary male, a scoundrel (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

marat

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

'french revolutionary' is the definition.
(Jean-Paul Marat, 1743-1793)

'male a scoundrel' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'male' could be 'm' (common abbreviation) and 'm' is present in the answer.
'a' is found in the answer.
'scoundrel' could be 'rat' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'rat' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for marat that I've seen before include "Revolutionary leader" , "revolutionary stabbed" , "Charlotte Corday murdered him in his bath" , "French revolutionary killed by Charlotte Corday" , "Jean Paul, French revolutionary, murdered in his bath" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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