Crossword Genius

I start to grimace a lot — a nasty sort of pain (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

otalgia

'sort of pain' is the definition.

'i start to grimace a lot a nasty' is the wordplay.
'start to' suggests taking the first letters.
'nasty' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'grimace' is 'g'.
'i'+'g'+'a'+'lot'+'a'='igalota'
'igalota' anagrammed gives 'OTALGIA'.

(Other definitions for otalgia that I've seen before include "pain!" , "Earache" , "painful condition" , "Problem with ears" , "Ear ache" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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