Crossword Genius

Having dried out the interior, shilly-shallied (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dithered

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'having dried out the interior shilly-shallied' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'dried out the interior shilly-shallied' is the wordplay.
'dried' becomes 'dire' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'out' is an insertion indicator.
'interior' indicates the central letters.
'shilly-shallied' becomes 'dawdled' (I've seen this in another clue).
The middle of 'dawdled' is 'd'.
'dire' going around 'the' is 'dithere'.
'dithere'+'d'='DITHERED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dithered that I've seen before include "Hesitated" , "Vacillated, was indecisive" , "Vacillated indecisively" , "Was hesitant" , "Was undecided" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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