Crossword Genius

Write a novel working by a table (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

waiter

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'working by a table' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'write a novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' is an anagram indicator.
'write'+'a'='writea'
'writea' with letters rearranged gives 'WAITER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for waiter that I've seen before include "Servant in bar" , "Restaurant worker" , "Herr Ober (Ger.)" , "One who serves at table" , "Attendant" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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