Crossword Genius

Hidden in underground cell, edging away from mice (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cryptic

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hidden' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'underground cell edging away from mice' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'cell' could be 'crypt' (I have seen 'Underground cell ' mean 'crypt' so perhaps 'cell' could also mean 'crypt') and 'crypt' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cryptic that I've seen before include "Mysterious, obscure" , "Obscure in meaning" , "Obscure or puzzling (as our page neighbour Crosaire)" , "Enigmatic" , "(Of crossword) withindirect clues" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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