Crossword Genius

Observes attack from the South (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

notes

'observes' is the definition.
('note' can be a synonym of 'observe')

'attack from the south' is the wordplay.
'attack' becomes 'set on' (synonyms).
'from the south' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'seton' in reverse letter order is 'NOTES'.

(Other definitions for notes that I've seen before include "Lines" , "Pays attention" , "Stone with jottings" , "Cash" , "Memoranda" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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