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Poet in dreary study (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dryden

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'poet' is the definition.
(John Dryden)

'dreary study' is the wordplay.
'dreary' becomes 'dry' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'study' becomes 'den' (term for a study or office).
'dry'+'den'='DRYDEN'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dryden that I've seen before include "17th century English poet and dramatist" , "Poet laureate, 1668-1689" , "Amphitryon was his" , "John --, first Poet Laureate" , "Restoration author" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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