Crossword Genius

Smothering the unduly deceitful (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

overlying

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'smothering' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'unduly deceitful' is the wordplay.
'unduly' becomes 'over' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'deceitful' becomes 'lying' (I've seen this in another clue).
'over'+'lying'='OVERLYING'

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for overlying that I've seen is " Placed on top of".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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