Crossword Genius

Appear to join, say (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

seem

'appear' is the definition.
(I know that seem is a more specific form of appear)

'join say' is the wordplay.
'join' becomes 'seam' (seaming is a kind of joining).
'say' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'seam' sounds like 'SEEM'.

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for seem that I've seen before include "Come across as" , "Appear to the eye" , "Appear, give impression of being" , "Appear, look" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express and The Mirror.
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