Crossword Genius

Mean to go without Penny? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spell

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'mean' is the definition.
(eg in 'this spells disaster')

'go without penny?' is the wordplay.
'go' becomes 'sell' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'without' means one lot of letters goes inside another ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'penny?' becomes 'p' (short for pence).
'sell' going around 'p' is 'SPELL'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spell that I've seen before include "Magical charm; short time" , "term" , "Period; piece of magic" , "Magic incantation" , "Formula believed to have magical force" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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