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After variable years, Ted's transformed in recent past (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yesterdays

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'after variable years ted's transformed in recent past' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'after variable years ted's transformed' is the wordplay.
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'variable' becomes 'y' (I've seen this in other clues).
'transformed' is an anagram indicator.
'years'+'teds'='yearsteds'
'yearsteds' anagrammed gives 'esterdays'.
'y' put next to 'esterdays' is 'YESTERDAYS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for yesterdays that I've seen before include "in the recent past" , "past times" , "in recent times" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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