Crossword Genius

Pleading for Quarex? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

asking

'pleading' is the definition.
(to plead is to ask for something)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for asking that I've seen before include "Inquiring" , "For the ___; freely available" , "Presenting petition" , "Making request" , "Demanding" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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