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Knowing with gear change, you get greasepaint (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sapient

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'knowing' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

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(Other definitions for sapient that I've seen before include "Literary word for wise" , "Discerning" , "Snipe at, being wise" , "Snipe at (anag.)" , "Having intelligence" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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