Crossword Genius

Should have got them off first, I reckoned (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

methought

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

'should have got them off' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'first i reckoned' is the wordplay.
'first' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'i' becomes 'me'.
'reckoned' becomes 'thought' ('think' can be a synonym of 'reckon').
'me' put next to 'thought' is 'METHOUGHT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for methought that I've seen before include "The speaker concluded" , "I had the impression" , "In old-fashioned way, I considered" .)

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