Connect fool with old spies at the borders (9)
I believe the answer is:
associate
'connect' is the definition.
(I know that connect can be written as associate)
'fool with old spies at the borders' is the wordplay.
'fool with' becomes 'ass' (both can mean a stupid person. I am not sure about the 'with' bit.).
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'spies' becomes 'CIA' (Central Intelligence Agency).
'at' says to put letters next to each other.
'borders' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (only the edge or border letters remain).
'the' with its centre taken out is 'te'.
'ass'+'o'+'cia'+'te'='ASSOCIATE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for associate that I've seen before include "Make a logical or casual connection" , "Not having full status" , "Make a connection or affiliate" , "Partner in work or business" , "Make a logical or causal connection" .)