Crossword Genius

Problem with A- being scribbled out (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

animus

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'problem' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'a-being scribbled out' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' could be 'an' and 'an' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for animus that I've seen before include "Hostile feeling" , "Feeling of strong dislike" , "Hostility, ill-feeling" , "spirit of hostility" , "Bad blood" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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