Crossword Genius

Melancholy puppet embracing female in Brussels? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

doleful

'melancholy' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'puppet embracing female in brussels?' is the wordplay.
'puppet' becomes 'doll' (I've seen this in another clue).
'embracing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'brussels?' becomes 'EU' (European Parliament is based in Brussels).
'f' put within 'eu' is 'efu'.
'doll' going around 'efu' is 'DOLEFUL'.

(Other definitions for doleful that I've seen before include "Sad" , "Lugubrious" , "not happy?" , "Sad-looking" , "Causing grief; sorrowful" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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