Short annual letter from Mary (3)

I believe the answer is:

mar

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'short annual' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'letter from mary' is the wordplay.
'letter' becomes 'y' (Y is a letter of the alphabet).
'from' suggests deleting specific letters.
'mary' with 'y' taken away is 'MAR'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mar that I've seen before include "Blemish" , "Oh dear!" , "Detract from" , "Ruin" , "Blight" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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