Crossword Genius

Woman, following bloke, contracted illness (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

malady

'illness' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'woman following bloke contracted' is the wordplay.
'woman' becomes 'lady' (lady is a kind of woman).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'bloke' becomes 'man' (I've seen this before).
'contracted' means to remove the last letter (to contract is to shorten).
'man' with its final letter taken off is 'ma'.
'lady' after 'ma' is 'MALADY'.

(Other definitions for malady that I've seen before include "Sickness or disease" , "affection" , "Complaint" , "Disease or disorder" , "hay fever, perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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