Crossword Genius

Seaman oddly seeing crew showing non-attendance (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

absence

'non-attendance' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'seaman oddly seeing crew' is the wordplay.
'seaman' becomes 'ab'.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters.
'seeing'+'crew'='seeingcrew'
The alternate letters of 'seeingcrew' are 'sence'.
'ab'+'sence'='ABSENCE'

'showing' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for absence that I've seen before include "What supposedly makes the heart grow fonder?" , "It makes the heart grow fonder, they say" , "Failure to show" , "State of being away" , "reason for better relationship?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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