Crossword Genius

Offered to look after English communist (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tendered

'offered' is the definition.
('tender' can be a synonym of 'offer')

'look after english communist' is the wordplay.
'look after' becomes 'tend' (tending is a kind of looking after).
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'communist' becomes 'red' (red is a kind of communist).
'tend'+'e'+'red'='TENDERED'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for tendered that I've seen before include "Offered as at auction" , "Offered a bid for a contract" , "Put in a bid for a contract" , "Made an offer" , "Made formal bid for contract" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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