Crossword Genius

Probe excessively, intermittently moving up (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

giotto

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'probe' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'excessively intermittently moving up' is the wordplay.
'excessively' becomes 'ott' (short for over the top).
'intermittently' indicates alternate letters.
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
The alternating letters of 'moving' are 'oig'.
'ott'+'oig'='ottoig'
'ottoig' reversed gives 'GIOTTO'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for giotto that I've seen before include "Fourteenth century Florentine artist" , "C14 Florentine frescoist" , "Italian artist" , "- di Bondone, C 14 Florentine artist" , "Florentine painter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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