Crossword Genius

Tear about always, being vicar, perhaps (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reverend

'vicar perhaps' is the definition.
(I know that vicar is a type of reverend)

'tear about always' is the wordplay.
'tear' becomes 'rend' (rending is a kind of tearing).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'always' becomes 'ever' (synonyms).
'rend' placed around 'ever' is 'REVEREND'.

'being' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for reverend that I've seen before include "Title of respect for a member of the clergy" , "Clergyman's title" , "Cleric's title" , "Priest's title" , "Style of cleric" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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