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Gestured, selling a different key (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

signalled

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'gestured' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'selling a different key' is the wordplay.
'different' indicates anagramming the letters (letters placed in a different order).
'key' becomes 'd' (musical key).
'selling'+'a'='sellinga'
'sellinga' anagrammed gives 'signalle'.
'signalle'+'d'='SIGNALLED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for signalled that I've seen before include "Indicated" , "Shown" , "Gestured, signed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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