Almost hoping old learner’s in large eastern force (6)
I believe the answer is:
oblige
'almost hoping' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'old learner's in large eastern force' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'learner' becomes 'l'.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'large' becomes 'big' (synonyms).
'eastern force' becomes 'e' (E is the symbol of electromotive force. I am not sure about the 'eastern' bit.).
'l' going within 'big' is 'blig'.
'o'+'blig'+'e'='OBLIGE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oblige that I've seen before include "Coerce or accommodate" , "Hold in debt" , "Make" , "Bind morally or legally" , "Do favour or coerce" .)