Crossword Genius

Is she doubly motherly? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mama

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'is she' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'doubly motherly?' is the wordplay.
'doubly' indicates the doubling of some letters.
'motherly?' becomes 'ma' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ma' doubled is 'MAMA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mama that I've seen before include "Mummy" , "Mature woman" , "Mother" , "Dam" , "Mum" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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