Crossword Genius

Common old man fed by priest before fast (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

prevalent

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'common' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'old man fed by priest before fast' is the wordplay.
'old man' becomes 'pa' (both can mean father).
'fed' is an insertion indicator (one word is \'fed\' to another).
'by priest' becomes 'rev' (I am not sure about the 'by' bit.).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'fast' becomes 'lent' (I've seen this before).
'pa' enclosing 'rev' is 'preva'.
'preva'+'lent'='PREVALENT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for prevalent that I've seen before include "general" , "powerful" , "Widely accepted" , "Common" , "Widespread - current" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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