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Sob quietly and endlessly check this puzzle? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cryptic

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'puzzle?' is the definition.
The definition and answer are not the same part of speech.

'sob quietly and endlessly check' is the wordplay.
'sob' becomes 'cry' (I've seen this in another clue).
'quietly' becomes 'pti' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'endlessly' means to remove the last letter.
'check' becomes 'ch' (abbreviation).
'ch' with its last letter taken off is 'c'.
'cry'+'pti'+'c'='CRYPTIC'

'this' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cryptic that I've seen before include "Like some crosswords" , "Concealing meaning in puzzling way as Crosaire does" , "Mysteriously obscure" , "'Obscure, puzzling (7)'" , "Mysterious, obscure" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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