Crossword Genius

First man... a motherly female? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

adam

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

'a motherly female?' is the wordplay.
'motherly female?' becomes 'dam' (term for a female animal that has given birth).
'a'+'dam'='ADAM'

(Other definitions for adam that I've seen before include "first in the race?" , "man expelled from garden" , "Eve's partner" , "Robert ..., ... Clayton" , "One of our common ancestors?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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