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Scholarly mum? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mater

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'mum?' is the definition.
(old-fashioned term for mother)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for mater that I've seen before include "having children" , "The alma . . . . . Is the old school (5)" , "Mum" , "parent" , "mum's the word" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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