Slight inebriation — nearly going wrong in confusion (9)
I believe the answer is:
merriness
'slight inebriation' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'nearly going wrong in confusion' is the wordplay.
'nearly' means to remove the last letter.
'going wrong' becomes 'erring' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'confusion' becomes 'mess' (mess can mean confusion or chaos).
'erring' with its last letter removed is 'errin'.
'errin' placed into 'mess' is 'MERRINESS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Times.
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