Crossword Genius

Work, e’er I end poorer (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

needier

'poorer' is the definition.
('needy' can be similar in meaning to 'poor')

'work e'er i end' is the wordplay.
'work' is an anagram indicator.
'eer'+'i'+'end'='eeriend'
'eeriend' with letters rearranged gives 'NEEDIER'.

(Other definitions for needier that I've seen before include "Wanting more" , "poor, ultimately - more so than others" , "More disadvantaged" , "In more want" , "Less well off" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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