Crossword Genius

Something said about periodically pallid bouquet (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

compliment

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'bouquet' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'something said about periodically pallid' is the wordplay.
'something said' becomes 'comment' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'periodically' means one should take alternating letters (letters must be selected 'every so often').
The alternate letters of 'pallid' are 'pli'.
'comment' placed around 'pli' is 'COMPLIMENT'.

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(Other definitions for compliment that I've seen before include "pat on the back" , "Word of praise" , "tribute" , "Words of praise" , "See 6" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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