Crossword Genius

Make out first of month by going around husband (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

decipher

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'make out' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'of month by going around husband' is the wordplay.
'of month' becomes 'deci' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'by' becomes 'per' (I've seen this in another clue).
'going around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'per' placed around 'h' is 'pher'.
'deci'+'pher'='DECIPHER'

'first' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for decipher that I've seen before include "Break code" , "Explain" , "Figure out" , "Work out (text in code)" , "Convert from code into plain language" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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