Crossword Genius

Maiden applied thought (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mused

'thought' is the definition.
(musing is a kind of thinking)

'maiden applied' is the wordplay.
'maiden' becomes 'm' (cricket abbreviation).
'applied' becomes 'used' ('use' can be a synonym of 'apply').
'm'+'used'='MUSED'

(Other definitions for mused that I've seen before include "Closer" , "Fuddled" , "Was absorbed in thought" , "Contemplated" , "'Meditated, mulled (5)'" .)

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