Lacking the top characters on most sides today (7)

I believe the answer is:

without

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'lacking' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for without that I've seen before include "Lacking; outside" , "Not accompanied by" , "Free from: in the absence of" , "Lacking; not inside" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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