Crossword Genius

Leave like Britain, not without heart (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

exeunt

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

'leave' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are verbs in their base form.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'britain not without heart' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'not' could be 'nt' (synonyms) and 'nt' is found in the answer.
'without' could be 'ex' (Latin) and 'ex' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'like' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for exeunt that I've seen before include "direction to get cast away" , "(Actors) leave stage" , "Trivial details" , "More than one exit?" , "They leave (stage direction)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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