Crossword Genius

Spy regularly wants to gather information (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

agent

'spy' is the definition.
(secret agent)

'regularly wants to gather information' is the wordplay.
'regularly' indicates alternate letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'to gather' indicates putting letters inside.
'information' becomes 'gen' (gen can informally mean information).
The alternating letters of 'wants' are 'at'.
'at' going around 'gen' is 'AGENT'.

(Other definitions for agent that I've seen before include "Delegate" , "who can act?" , "Actors' manager" , "Performer's manager" , "Traveller" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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