Crossword Genius

Foolishly canoeing across river, not having had instruction (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ignorance

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'not having had instruction' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'foolishly canoeing across river' is the wordplay.
'foolishly' is an anagram indicator.
'across' indicates putting letters inside.
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'canoeing' with letters rearranged gives 'ignoance'.
'ignoance' enclosing 'r' is 'IGNORANCE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ignorance that I've seen before include "lack of awareness" , "Unintelligence" , "Stupidity" , "Lack of education" , "being uninformed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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