Crossword Genius

Tricky meeting involving priest and chapter (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

delicate

'tricky' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'meeting involving priest and chapter' is the wordplay.
'meeting' becomes 'date' (date is a kind of meeting).
'involving' indicates putting letters inside.
'priest' becomes 'eli' (biblical figure).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'chapter' becomes 'c'.
'eli'+'c'='elic'
'date' placed around 'elic' is 'DELICATE'.

(Other definitions for delicate that I've seen before include "Discriminating" , "Dainty - fragile" , "Weak" , "Exquisitely fine and subtle" , "Exquisite; needing tactful handling" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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