19 across
Two
words
of
compliance
in
song,
or
three
such
at
sea
(3,3,3)
Two words of compliance in song, or three such at sea (3,3,3)
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The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
The definition is three such at sea, referring to the naval phrase "aye aye sir" — three words of compliance used at sea. The wordplay takes YEA and YES ("two words of compliance") and places them inside AIR ("song"). Inserting YEA + YES into A-IR gives A-YEAYES-IR, which reads as AYE AYE SIR.