Crossword Genius

Maiden hugs assistant (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aide

'assistant' is the definition.
(aide is a kind of assistant)

'maiden hugs' is the wordplay.
'hugs' indicates a hidden word (the answer is hugged by letters in the clue).
'AIDE' is hidden within 'maiden'.

(Other definitions for aide that I've seen before include "Assistant to a more senior person" , "Somebody helping" , "Officer in attendance" , "auxiliary" , "someone in assistance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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