Crossword Genius

Birthday offering dispatched beforehand (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

present

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'birthday offering' is the definition.
'present' can be an answer for 'offering' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'birthday' bit.

'dispatched beforehand' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'dispatched' could be 'sent' (I've seen this before) and 'sent' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'pre' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for present that I've seen before include "show" , "Serpent (anag.)" , "able to be registered" , "host" , "Christmas hand-out" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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