Pale as ladybird? (5)

I believe the answer is:

ashen

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'pale' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'as ladybird?' is the wordplay.
'ladybird?' becomes 'hen' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'as'+'hen'='ASHEN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ashen that I've seen before include "Pale-faced" , "lacking in colour" , "Wan - wooden - pallid" , "Having gone pale" , "So vampire might appear" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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