Crossword Genius

Most like a cuckoo where the cuckoo lays? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inanest

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

'cuckoo lays?' is the definition.
'inanest' can be an answer for 'cuckoo' (I have seen 'Most cuckoo' mean 'inanest' so perhaps 'cuckoo' could also mean 'inanest'). I'm unsure of the 'lays?' bit.

'most like a cuckoo where the' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' could be 'an' and 'an' is found within the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ines' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inanest that I've seen before include "most senseless" , "Most stupid" , "Most cuckoo" , "Most silly" , "Exhibiting minimal sense" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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