Crossword Genius

Back massage to seem odd to these people (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

burmese

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'these people' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'back massage to seem odd' is the wordplay.
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'massage' becomes 'rub' (rub can mean to massage).
'to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'odd' is an anagram indicator.
'rub' in reverse letter order is 'bur'.
'seem' anagrammed gives 'mese'.
'bur'+'mese'='BURMESE'

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for burmese that I've seen before include "Breed of cat" , "Native to Myanmar" , "Asians" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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