Crossword Genius

Time conceals a deserter's mistakes (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

errata

'mistakes' is the definition.
(an erratum is a mistake in a printed work)

'time conceals a deserter's' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 'era' (an era is a period of time).
'conceals' is an insertion indicator.
'a deserter' becomes 'rat' (both can mean a traitor).
'era' going around 'rat' is 'ERRATA'.

(Other definitions for errata that I've seen before include "Noted mistakes" , "mistakes in print" , "List of mistakes (in book)" , "List of misprints" , "List of errors" .)

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