Crossword Genius

Take out old passage (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

extract

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'take out' is the definition.
(I know that take out can be written as extract)

'old passage' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'passage' becomes 'tract' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ex'+'tract'='EXTRACT'

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(Other definitions for extract that I've seen before include "Take or pull out - say a tooth" , "essence" , "Short passage (of text)" , "(Piece) remove(d)" , "Remove; short passage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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