Crossword Genius

The unusually stern needs of affection (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tenderness

'affection' is the definition.
(I know that affection can be written as tenderness)

'the unusually stern needs' is the wordplay.
'the unusually' indicates an anagram.
'stern'+'needs'='sternneeds'
'sternneeds' is an anagram of 'TENDERNESS'.

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tenderness that I've seen before include "Heart" , "Gentle quality" , "Gentleness, sensitivity" , "Compassion" , "sore?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Irish News.
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