Crossword Genius

Pedestrians do at a parting of the ways (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crossroads

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'pedestrians do' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'at a parting of the ways' is the wordplay.
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a parting of' becomes 'cross' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'the ways' becomes 'roads' (road is a kind of way).
'cross' put next to 'roads' is 'CROSSROADS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crossroads that I've seen before include "Soap once" , "Meeting of ways" , "critical situation?" , "Intersection of ways" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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