Crossword Genius

Matter is dry, distributed on middle of field in rural areas (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

countryside

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

'matter is dry distributed on middle of field' is the wordplay.
'matter' becomes 'count' (both can mean to be of significance).
'distributed' indicates an anagram.
'on' is an insertion indicator (as in clothing 'on' a person).
'middle of' means to look at the middle letters.
The middle letter of 'field' is 'e'.
'is'+'dry'='isdry'
'isdry' with letters rearranged gives 'rysid'.
'count' put within 'rysid' is 'countrysid'.
'countrysid'+'e'='COUNTRYSIDE'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for countryside that I've seen before include "Rural area" , "Rural areas" , "Turned so icy (anag.)" , "The green and pleasant part of our land" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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