Crossword Genius

Satirical author's left with riddle (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sift

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'riddle' is the definition.
(riddle can mean to sieve or sift)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sift that I've seen before include "Remove lumps from, eg, flour" , "Examine minutely" , "Sieve, examine closely" , "screen" , "Separate out - examine closely" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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