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Bashes eastern and southern states (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

essays

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'bashes' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'eastern and southern states' is the wordplay.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'southern' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'states' becomes 'says' ('say' can be a synonym of 'state').
'e'+'s'+'says'='ESSAYS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for essays that I've seen before include "Attempts, writing" , "Dissertations" , "Makes attempt to do short pieces of writing" , "Makes experimental attempts" , "Attempts - written compositions" .)

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