Crossword Genius

More liberal French bird back (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

freer

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'more liberal' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are comparative adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'french bird back' is the wordplay.
'french' becomes 'fr' (abbreviation).
'bird' becomes 'ree' (term for a female ruff bird).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'ree' backwards is 'eer'.
'fr'+'eer'='FREER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for freer that I've seen before include "Less restricted" , "Less constrained" , "More at liberty, less restrained" , "less inhibited" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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