Crossword Genius

Acknowledges swans flying over English river (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

answers

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

'acknowledges' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'swans flying over english river' is the wordplay.
'flying' indicates anagramming the letters.
'over' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'river' becomes 'r'.
'swans' with letters rearranged gives 'answs'.
'e'+'r'='er'
'answs' going around 'er' is 'ANSWERS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for answers that I've seen before include "keys" , "Replies" , "serves" , "Returns" , "Rawness (anag)" .)

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