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See why esteem, mostly, is said to spell growth (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cyst

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

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

'see why esteem mostly' is the wordplay.
'see' becomes 'c' (the word for the letter, according to Chambers).
'why' becomes 'y'.
'esteem mostly' becomes 'st' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'c'+'y'+'st'='CYST'

'is said to spell' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cyst that I've seen before include "Bag-like growth containing diseased matter" , "Abnormal growth" , "Bladder" , "Abnormal closed sac in a body" , "Fluid filled sac" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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