Crossword Genius

Used to be cut up (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

was

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'used to be' is the definition.
(eg 'he was...' means 'he used to be...')

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for was that I've seen before include "Existed in the past" , "(I/he/she/it) existed" , "'Is, in the past (3)'" , "(I/he) existed" , "Used to be" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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