Crossword Genius

Loans made by suitors (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

advances

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'loans' is the definition.
(advancing is a kind of loaning)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for advances that I've seen before include "Loans" , "Moves forward like army" , "Amounts paid before they're earned" , "Improvements; moves forwards" , "Forward movements" .)

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