Crossword Genius

Longed for the year to end badly! (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yearned

'longed for' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'year to end badly' is the wordplay.
'to' says to put letters next to each other.
'badly' indicates an anagram.
'end' with letters rearranged gives 'ned'.
'year'+'ned'='YEARNED'

'the' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for yearned that I've seen before include "Deanery (anag)" , "Craved" , "Felt longing (for something)" , "Longed (for something)" , "Longed to be in deanery" .)

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