Crossword Genius

Split right after evening meal? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tear

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

'split' is the definition.
(I know that split can be written as tear)

'right after evening meal?' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'ar' (I've seen this in other clues).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'evening meal?' becomes 'te' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ar' after 'te' is 'TEAR'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tear that I've seen before include "Small flaw, as in glass" , "Lachrymal drop - rip" , "Droplet; rip" , "charge" , "Rip; salty drop" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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