Crossword Genius

Sizable pasta slices, second being free? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

openness

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'free?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'sizable pasta slices second' is the wordplay.
'sizable' becomes 'os' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'pasta' becomes 'penne' (penne is a type of pasta).
'slices' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters slice their way in).
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'os' enclosing 'penne' is 'opennes'.
'opennes'+'s'='OPENNESS'

'being' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for openness that I've seen before include "Frank attitude" , "Candour, receptiveness" , "4 dn quality" , "Candid nature" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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