Bitterly continues a row with the French (7)

I believe the answer is:

rankles

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'bitterly continues a' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'row with the french' is the wordplay.
'row' becomes 'rank' (as in a taxi rank).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'the french' becomes 'les' (plural form of 'the' in French).
'rank'+'les'='RANKLES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rankles that I've seen before include "Goes on vexing" , "Continues to hurt" , "Riles" , "Causes lasting and bitter annoyance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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