Crossword Genius

Way to embrace little darling (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sweet

'darling' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'way to embrace little' is the wordplay.
'way' becomes 'st'.
'to embrace' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'little' becomes 'wee' ('wee' can be similar in meaning to 'little').
'st' going around 'wee' is 'SWEET'.

(Other definitions for sweet that I've seen before include "It is agreeable" , "Cute" , "darling" , "Ewes cycle it (anag) -- herb (myrrh)" , "Tart, perhaps - or not tart" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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