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Can be verbally described as first and last elf story with a moral (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

effable

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'can be verbally described' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'first and last elf story with a moral' is the wordplay.
'first and last' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (only the first and last letters are used).
'story with a moral' becomes 'fable' (a fable imparts a moral lesson).
'elf' with its middle taken out is 'ef'.
'ef'+'fable'='EFFABLE'

'as' is the link.

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(Another definition for effable that I've seen is " not beyond words".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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