Crossword Genius

Shrink animal with hesitation (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cower

'shrink' is the definition.
(shrink can mean to cower from something)

'animal with hesitation' is the wordplay.
'animal' becomes 'cow' (cow is a kind of animal).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hesitation' becomes 'er' (sound made while hesitating - um, er).
'cow'+'er'='COWER'

(Other definitions for cower that I've seen before include "Cringe, crouch" , "Shrink back in fear" , "Bend in fear" , "Grovel in fear" , "Quail" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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