Looked knowingly before being led out (6)

I believe the answer is:

leered

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'looked knowingly' is the definition.
'leered' can be an answer for 'looked' (leering is a kind of looking). I am not certain of the 'knowingly' bit.

'before being led out' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term for 'before').
'being led' becomes 'led'.
'out' indicates putting letters inside.
'ere' placed inside 'led' is 'LEERED'.

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(Other definitions for leered that I've seen before include "Looked lecherously" , "Looked or stared lasciviously" , "gave a nasty look" , "Looked and smiled lasciviously" , "Gazed at lasciviously" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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