Crossword Genius

Free indeed yet treated with scorn (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

derided

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

'treated with scorn' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'free indeed yet' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'free' could be 'rid' (to be free of something is to be rid of it) and 'rid' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'deed' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for derided that I've seen before include "Did rubbish" , "Made fun of" , "Treated or spoke of with contempt" , "Ridiculed" , "Mocked, laughed at" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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