Crossword Genius

Wife ill and crying (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wailing

'crying' is the definition.
(wailing is a kind of crying)

'wife ill' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'ill' becomes 'ailing' (similar in meaning).
'w'+'ailing'='WAILING'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for wailing that I've seen before include "Greeting" , "Jerusalem site sacred to Jews for prayer and lamentation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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