Even curtseyed before a dignitary — one’s lost a member (7)

I believe the answer is:

amputee

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But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?

(Other definitions for amputee that I've seen before include "Possible Paralympian" , "One who has limb surgically removed" , "One who has lost a limb" , "man with frostbitten toes, once?" , "One who's had a limb removed in surgery" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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