Crossword Genius

Wild beast devours knight, but not here (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

absent

'not here' is the definition.
(absent from this place)

'wild beast devours knight' is the wordplay.
'wild' indicates an anagram.
'devours' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are devoured).
'knight' becomes 'n' (chess abbreviation).
'beast' is an anagram of 'abset'.
'abset' enclosing 'n' is 'ABSENT'.

'but' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for absent that I've seen before include "Not attending" , "elsewhere" , "Forgetful, with mind on other things" , "Missing, lacking" , "Inattentive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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