Formally saying nothing to the sailor (7)

I believe the answer is:

orating

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'formally saying' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'nothing to the sailor' is the wordplay.
'nothing' becomes 'O' (looks like zero - 0).
'to the sailor' becomes 'rating' (British term for a naval enlisted man).
'o'+'rating'='ORATING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orating that I've seen before include "sounding off" , "Speaking grandly in public" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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