Vex in quite a serious way (5)

I believe the answer is:

tease

'vex' is the definition.
(I know this)

'in quite a serious way' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'TEASE' is hidden in the letters of 'quite a serious way'.

(Other definitions for tease that I've seen before include "Poke fun at" , "Kid" , "Rib, annoy" , "Banter, make gentle fun of" , "Comb to remove tangles and open out the fibres" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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