Crossword Genius

Shocked as top lawyer suffers with tension (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aghast

'shocked' is the definition.
(I know that shocked can be written as aghast)

'top lawyer suffers with tension' is the wordplay.
'top lawyer' becomes 'AG' (abbreviation for attorney general).
'suffers' becomes 'has' (have can mean to suffer or experience).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'tension' becomes 't' (abbreviation for surface tension).
'ag'+'has'+'t'='AGHAST'

'as' is the link.

(Other definitions for aghast that I've seen before include "Horrified, appalled" , "Struck with horror" , "struck with fear" , "Stunned" , "Deeply dismayed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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