Crossword Genius

Made agreeable by dear editor (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

honeyed

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'made agreeable by dear editor' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'by dear editor' is the wordplay.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'dear' becomes 'honey' ('honey' can be a synonym of 'dear').
'editor' becomes 'ed'.
'honey' put next to 'ed' is 'HONEYED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for honeyed that I've seen before include "Sweetly flattering (words)" , "(Falsely) pleasing to the ear" , "Mellifluous" , "like words of flattery" , "(Of words) soothing, soft" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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