Crossword Genius

Father embracing a deity in temple (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pagoda

'temple' is the definition.
(pagoda is a kind of temple)

'father embracing a deity' is the wordplay.
'father' becomes 'pa' (pa can mean dad or father).
'embracing' indicates putting letters inside.
'deity' becomes 'god' (synonyms).
'a'+'god'='agod'
'pa' placed around 'agod' is 'PAGODA'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for pagoda that I've seen before include "temple? Quite the opposite" , "Eastern tiered tower" , "Buddhist temple, pyramid-shaped with many tiers" , "Oriental temple, often a tower" , "Pyramidal temple with an upward curving roof" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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