Crossword Genius

Feverish winter weeks are annoying (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

febrile

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'feverish' is the definition.
(I know that feverish can be written as febrile)

'winter weeks are annoying' is the wordplay.
'winter weeks' becomes 'feb' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'are annoying' becomes 'rile' (to rile someone is to annoy them).
'feb'+'rile'='FEBRILE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for febrile that I've seen before include "Overheated" , "Of or involving a fever, feverish" , "Very hot" , "Delirious" , "Showing nervous excitement" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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