Crossword Genius

Love affair within a limit (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

adoration

'love' is the definition.
(to adore someone is to love them)

'affair within a limit' is the wordplay.
'affair' becomes 'do' (do is a kind of affair).
'within' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'limit' becomes 'ration' (rationing is a kind of limiting).
'a'+'ration'='aration'
'do' inserted within 'aration' is 'ADORATION'.

(Other definitions for adoration that I've seen before include "Honour" , "Deep love and respect" , "enormous respect" , "What star gets from fans" , "high esteem" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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