Crossword Genius

How speech is given after ethically removing leader (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

orally

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'ethically removing leader' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'how speech is given' is the wordplay.
'how' becomes 'ly' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'speech' becomes 'oral' (oral means relating to speech).
'is given' says to put letters next to each other.
'ly' after 'oral' is 'ORALLY'.

'after' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orally that I've seen before include "How anyone would speak" , "as auditions are done" , "given drugs thus?" , "How one speaks" , "via the trap" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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