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Hurtfully forming one figure in moulded clay (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

acidly

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'hurtfully' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adverbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'one figure in moulded clay' is the wordplay.
'one figure' becomes 'id' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'moulded' indicates anagramming the letters.
'clay' with letters rearranged gives 'acly'.
'id' put within 'acly' is 'ACIDLY'.

'forming' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for acidly that I've seen before include "in caustic manner" , "Bitterly" , "in a sour manner" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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