Crossword Genius

Wrong move lost tempi securing vacant squares (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

misstep

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'wrong move' is the definition.
'misstep' can be an answer for 'move' (I have seen 'False move' mean 'misstep' so perhaps 'move' could also mean 'misstep'). I am not sure about the 'wrong' bit.

'lost tempi securing vacant squares' is the wordplay.
'lost' indicates anagramming the letters.
'securing' indicates putting letters inside.
'vacant' means to remove the middle letters (a vacant or emptied out form of the word).
'squares' with its centre removed is 'ss'.
'tempi' with letters rearranged gives 'mitep'.
'mitep' going around 'ss' is 'MISSTEP'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for misstep that I've seen before include "Badly judged move" , "bad move" , "False move" , "Badly judged footing" , "Error" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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