Crossword Genius

Letter bound to have shown sympathy (6)

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

'shown sympathy' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs occasionally mean the same thing.

'letter bound to' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'letter' could be 's' and 's' is present in the answer.
'bound' could be 'rim' (both can mean a limit or boundary) and 'rim' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'oe' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'have' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rimose that I've seen before include "Full of cracks and fissures - is more required?" , "network of cracks" .)

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