Crossword Genius

Found river north of sea (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deemed

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'found' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'river north of sea' is the wordplay.
'river' becomes 'dee' (River Dee).
'north of' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go above others).
'sea' becomes 'med' (short for Mediterranean).
'dee'+'med'='DEEMED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for deemed that I've seen before include "Considered, reckoned" , "Considered, held the view" , "Regarded, considered" , "Judged, thought, considered" , "Considered, opined" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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