It's spoken dramatically, without tears (6)

I believe the answer is:

french

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'tears' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for french that I've seen before include "The losers at Agincourt" , "A Romance language" , "-- Polish; -- stick" , "Significant language of Belgium, Switzerland and Canada" , "Glass door" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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