Crossword Genius

Helped to nurse very old being ignored (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

avoided

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'ignored' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'helped to nurse very old' is the wordplay.
'helped' becomes 'aided' ('aid' can be a synonym of 'help').
'to nurse' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'very' becomes 'v' (abbreviation).
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'v'+'o'='vo'
'aided' placed around 'vo' is 'AVOIDED'.

'being' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for avoided that I've seen before include "Eluded or dodged" , "Stayed clear of" , "Shunned" , "Missed" , "Steered clear of" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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