Charming qualities masking your compiler's ugly looks? (8)
I believe the answer is:
grimaces
'ugly looks?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to bodily activities as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'charming qualities masking your compiler's' is the wordplay.
'charming qualities' becomes 'graces' (grace is a kind of quality. I am not sure about the 'charming' bit.).
'masking' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are covered up or masked).
'your compiler's' becomes 'I'm' ('your compiler' refers to the crossword compiler).
'graces' placed around 'im' is 'GRIMACES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for grimaces that I've seen before include "Contorted facial expressions" , "Makes wry expression" , "threatening features" , "Facial distortions of distaste" , "Twisted expressions" .)