Defamed Frenchman to sympathise with writer (8)

I believe the answer is:

maligned

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'defamed' is the definition.
(maligning is a kind of defaming)

'frenchman to sympathise with writer' is the wordplay.
'frenchman' becomes 'm' (abbreviation for Monsieur - like 'Mr').
'to sympathise with' becomes 'align' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'writer' becomes 'ed' (I've seen this in other clues).
'm'+'align'+'ed'='MALIGNED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for maligned that I've seen before include "Defamed" , "Abused" , "Spoken ill of" , "stigmatised" , "Unjustly slandered" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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