Crossword Genius

Pedant's oddly dismissed worry (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eat

'worry' is the definition.
(something worrying may eat someone up)

'pedant's oddly dismissed' is the wordplay.
'oddly dismissed' means one should take alternating letters (letters in odd-numbered positions removed).
The alternating letters of 'pedants' are 'EAT'.

(Other definitions for eat that I've seen before include "Munch" , "Bite, chew and swallow" , "Break bread" , "Consume for tea" , "Do cats - bats? Do bats - cats? (Alice in Wonderland)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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