Crossword Genius

Malleable ring twisted around cube (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

obedient

'malleable' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'ring twisted around cube' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'o'.
'twisted' becomes 'bent' ('bend' can be a synonym of 'twist'**).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'cube' becomes 'die' (die is a kind of cube).
'bent' enclosing 'die' is 'bedient'.
'o'+'bedient'='OBEDIENT'

(Other definitions for obedient that I've seen before include "Like monk" , "Dutiful" , "Doing as one's told" , "Willing to comply" , "Doing what one is told, compliant" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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