Crossword Genius

Blanches: a T S Eliot novel after completion of verse? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

etiolates

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'blanches' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to bodily activities as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'a t s eliot novel after completion of verse?' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates an anagram (letters in a new or novel order).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'completion of' suggests the final letters.
The final letter of 'verse' is 'e'.
'a'+'t'+'s'+'eliot'='atseliot'
'atseliot' with letters rearranged gives 'tiolates'.
'tiolates' after 'e' is 'ETIOLATES'.

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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