Crossword Genius

Encouraged old Rod, the eccentric (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

exhorted

'encouraged' is the definition.
(exhorting is a kind of encouraging)

'old rod the eccentric' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'eccentric' indicates an anagram.
'rod'+'the'='rodthe'
'rodthe' anagrammed gives 'horted'.
'ex'+'horted'='EXHORTED'

(Other definitions for exhorted that I've seen before include "Urged, pressed to" , "Urged or advised earnestly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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