Frightening member of tribe? Pray, if losing heart (6)

I believe the answer is:

creepy

'frightening' is the definition.

'member of tribe? pray if losing heart' is the wordplay.
'member of tribe?' becomes 'cree' (Cree is a Native American tribe).
'if losing heart' suggests removing the centre.
'pray' with its centre taken out is 'py'.
'cree'+'py'='CREEPY'

(Other definitions for creepy that I've seen before include "Frightening or disturbing" , "Not wholesome" , "Rather eerie" , "Eerie; repellent" , "Threatening" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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