Crossword Genius

Frightened about conclusion of paper being marked (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scarred

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

'frightened about conclusion of paper' is the wordplay.
'frightened' becomes 'scared' ('scare' can be a synonym of 'frighten').
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'conclusion of' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'paper' is 'r'.
'scared' going around 'r' is 'SCARRED'.

(Other definitions for scarred that I've seen before include "Flawed" , "Bearing the marks of wounds" , "Marked for life" , "Blemished" , "bearing evidence of injury" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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