Crossword Genius

Is there at the start and finishes (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

attends

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

'is there' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'at the start and finishes' is the wordplay.
'start' says to take the initial letters.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'finishes' becomes 'ends' ('end' can be a synonym of 'finish').
The first letter of 'the' is 't'.
'at'+'t'+'ends'='ATTENDS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for attends that I've seen before include "to listen carefully" , "Waits on or is present" , "Pays attention" , "Listens" , "ministers" .)

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