Crossword Genius

In a devious way, a girl's energetic, lacking a start (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

evasively

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'in' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'a devious way a girl's energetic lacking a start' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'way' could be 's' (Compass direction - South) and 's' is located in the answer.
'girl' could be 'viv' (short for Vivienne) and 'viv' is present in the remaining letters.
The remaining letters 'eely' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for evasively that I've seen before include "In a devious manner" , "So as to avoid the point" .)

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