Crossword Genius

Scramble as the man blocks pincer movement (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

encipher

'scramble' is the definition.
(to scramble is to encrypt or encipher a message)

'the man blocks pincer movement' is the wordplay.
'the man' becomes 'he'.
'blocks' indicates putting letters inside (the inside letters form a 'blockage').
'movement' indicates anagramming the letters.
'pincer' with letters rearranged gives 'encipr'.
'he' placed into 'encipr' is 'ENCIPHER'.

'as' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for encipher that I've seen before include "Convert ordinary language into code" , "Put into code" , "Convert to coded form" .)

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