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Alleviated from often going into South-east Daneshead (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

softened

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'alleviated' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'often going into south-east daneshead' is the wordplay.
'going into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'south east' becomes 'SE' (abbreviation).
'daneshead' becomes 'd' (head letter of 'danes').
'often' put into 'se' is 'softene'.
'softene'+'d'='SOFTENED'

'from' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for softened that I've seen before include "Became tender" , "Relented" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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