Crossword Genius

Looked mischievous, being found in pit (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

searched

'looked' is the definition.
('search' can be a synonym of 'look')

'mischievous being found in pit' is the wordplay.
'mischievous' becomes 'arch' (I've seen this before).
'being found in' is an insertion indicator.
'pit' becomes 'seed' ('pit' is a US term for the stone of a fruit).
'arch' placed into 'seed' is 'SEARCHED'.

(Other definitions for searched that I've seen before include "Sought, scoured" , "Spent time trying to find" , "Sought to find" , "Tried to locate" , "Sought, looked through" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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