Crossword Genius

Responded to article by son and wife before daughter (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

answered

'responded to' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'son and wife before daughter' is the wordplay.
'son' becomes 'ans' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'before' becomes 'ere' (usually literary).
'daughter' becomes 'd'.
'ans'+'w'+'ere'+'d'='ANSWERED'

'article by' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

(Other definitions for answered that I've seen before include "was sufficient" , "Replied or responded" , "succeeded" , "Fulfilled" , "Sawn reed (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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