Crossword Genius

Sometimes dotty characters supporting feminine state? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fiji

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'state?' is the definition.
(Fiji is an example)

'sometimes dotty characters supporting feminine' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'feminine' could be 'f' (abbreviation listed in Chambers) and 'f' is present in the answer.
'dotty characters' could be 'iji' (three letters with a dot on them) and 'iji' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fiji that I've seen before include "part of the Pacific" , "South Pacific country, capital Suva" , "South Pacific archipelago" , "South Pacific republic of 844 islands" , "Commonwealth state" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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