Crossword Genius

Huge flying insect seemed minute the morning before (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mammoth

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'huge' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'flying insect seemed minute the morning before' is the wordplay.
'flying insect' becomes 'moth' (I've seen this in another clue).
'seemed minute' becomes 'm' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'the morning' becomes 'am' (as in m2:00 AM).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'm'+'am'='mam'
'moth' put after 'mam' is 'MAMMOTH'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mammoth that I've seen before include "Extinct hairy elephant" , "Prehistoric beast like hairy elephant" , "Immense" , "Huge" , "Large, woolly ice-age beast" .)

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