Crossword Genius

Tricks Methuselah will use shortly ... is one briefly taken in? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

illusions

'tricks' is the definition.
('illusion' can be a synonym of 'trick')

'methuselah will use shortly is one briefly taken in?' is the wordplay.
'methuselah will' becomes 'ill' (where the crossword setter is 'Methuselah').
'shortly' means to remove the last letter.
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'taken in?' is an insertion indicator.
'use' with its last letter removed is 'us'.
'one' with its final letter taken off is 'on'.
'is' placed around 'on' is 'ions'.
'ill'+'us'+'ions'='ILLUSIONS'

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