Crossword Genius

Help someone in a bad way (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abet

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'help someone' is the definition.
'abet' can be an answer for 'help' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'someone' bit.

'in a bad way' is the wordplay.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'bad' becomes 'bt' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'way' becomes 'e' (Compass direction - East).
'a'+'bt'='abt'
'abt' going around 'e' is 'ABET'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abet that I've seen before include "Beat (anag.)" , "Incite, help" , "Support, aid" , "Make good" , "support wrongdoing" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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