Crossword Genius

Plight of a boyfriend after fine? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

affiance

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'plight' is the definition.
('affiance' can be a synonym of 'plight')

'a boyfriend after fine?' is the wordplay.
'boyfriend' becomes 'fiance' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'fine?' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'fiance' put after 'f' is 'ffiance'.
'a'+'ffiance'='AFFIANCE'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for affiance that I've seen before include "Betroth, become engaged" , "Bond" , "Betroth with face I fan" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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