Better to keep son wretched? (6)

I believe the answer is:

cursed

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'wretched?' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'better to keep son' is the wordplay.
'better' becomes 'cured' (after being sick).
'to keep' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'son' becomes 's'.
'cured' going around 's' is 'CURSED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cursed that I've seen before include "Uttered imprecation, swore" , "Detestable" , "Blasphemed" , "Uttered profanities" , "Anathematised" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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