Crossword Genius

Minor, yet awfully atrocious crime (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

enormity

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'atrocious crime' is the definition.
'enormity' can be an answer for 'crime' (I have seen 'Grave crime ' mean 'enormity' so perhaps 'crime' could also mean 'enormity'). I am not sure about the 'atrocious' bit.

'minor yet awfully' is the wordplay.
'awfully' indicates anagramming the letters.
'minor'+'yet'='minoryet'
'minoryet' anagrammed gives 'ENORMITY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for enormity that I've seen before include "Great wickedness or huge size" , "Shocking act" , "act of wickedness?" , "Atrociousness" , "Evil" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app