Having expanded, did cover the former (7)

I believe the answer is:

dilated

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'having expanded' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'did cover the former' is the wordplay.
'cover' is an insertion indicator.
'the former' becomes 'late' (late can mean former or previous).
'did' going around 'late' is 'DILATED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dilated that I've seen before include "Became more open" , "like pupils in the dark" , "Made more open/wide" , "Spoke at length" , "Distended" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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