Crossword Genius

Holy messenger curing a gerbil (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gabriel

'holy messenger' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'curing a gerbil' is the wordplay.
'curing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'a'+'gerbil'='agerbil'
'agerbil' anagrammed gives 'GABRIEL'.

(Other definitions for gabriel that I've seen before include "Chief guard of Paradise" , "Archangel and messenger of God" , "Man'" , "Trumpet-playing archangel who heralded good news" , "The angel with a trumpet" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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