Crossword Genius

Gave out and faded, having succeeded with writers (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dispensed

'gave out' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'faded having succeeded with writers' is the wordplay.
'faded' becomes 'died' (I've seen this before).
'having' is an insertion indicator.
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'writers' becomes 'pens' (writing implements).
's'+'pens'='spens'
'died' placed around 'spens' is 'DISPENSED'.

'and' is the link.

(Another definition for dispensed that I've seen is " Gave out medicines".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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