Crossword Genius

Would he cheat a motherless man? (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

don

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'would he' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

'cheat a motherless man?' is the wordplay.
'cheat' becomes 'do'.
'a motherless man?' becomes 'n' (knight, a man in chess. I am not sure about the 'motherless' bit.).
'do'+'n'='DON'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for don that I've seen before include "A mafia chief or Spanish grandee" , "A Spanish grandee like Quixote" , "Spanish nobleman" , "University teacher" , "A mafia chief or Spanish lord" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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