Crossword Genius

Happening to have seen bagging a number (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

seventeen

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'happening' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'seen bagging a number' is the wordplay.
'bagging' means one lot of letters goes inside another (bag can mean to obtain or contain).
'a number' becomes 'event' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'seen' enclosing 'event' is 'SEVENTEEN'.

'to have' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for seventeen that I've seen before include "XVII" , "odd number" , "Figure" , "Age when full driving licence can be obtained" , "Quite a few" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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