Crossword Genius

Shocked to find, at some stage, so much haste? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aghast

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

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

'at some stage so much haste?' is the wordplay.
'at' says to put letters next to each other.
'some stage so' becomes 'ag' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'much' means to remove the last letter (much but not all of the word).
'haste' with its final letter taken off is 'hast'.
'ag' next to 'hast' is 'AGHAST'.

'to find' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aghast that I've seen before include "Horror-struck" , "in awe" , "Filled with fear or horror" , "'Appalled, dismayed (6)'" , "Amazed" .)

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