Crossword Genius

Show ill disposition, beset by enemies (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

follies

'show' is the definition.
(follies is a kind of show)

'ill disposition beset by enemies' is the wordplay.
'disposition' indicates an anagram.
'beset by' means one lot of letters goes inside another ('beset' could historically mean 'cover').
'enemies' becomes 'foes' (a foe is an enemy or rival).
'ill' anagrammed gives 'lli'.
'lli' going into 'foes' is 'FOLLIES'.

(Other definitions for follies that I've seen before include "Rash actions" , "Ornamental buildings with no practical purpose" , "Idiocies" , "Silly acts or ornamental buildings" .)

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