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Bachelors, I see, are essential (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

basic

'essential' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'bachelors i see' is the wordplay.
'bachelors' becomes 'bas' (people with Bachelor of Arts degrees).
'see' becomes 'C' (the word for the letter, according to Chambers).
'bas'+'i'+'c'='BASIC'

'are' is the link.

(Other definitions for basic that I've seen before include "Introductory" , "Radical" , "No-frills" , "At the simplest level" , "Straightforward" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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