Crossword Genius

Shame was mine and yours, initially (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pity

'shame' is the definition.
(I know that shame can be written as pity)

'mine and yours initially' is the wordplay.
'mine' becomes 'pit' (as in a mining pit).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'yours' is 'y'.
'pit'+'y'='PITY'

'was' is the link.

(Other definitions for pity that I've seen before include "true compassion?" , "Feel sorrow for" , "Sympathy for others" , "Sympathy and sorrow" , "Sympathise with" .)

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