Part of dear Earth (4)

I believe the answer is:

area

'part' is the definition.
(area is a kind of part)

'of dear earth' is the wordplay.
'of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'AREA' can be found hidden inside 'dear earth'.

(Other definitions for area that I've seen before include "District; locale" , "Region, space" , "Speaking formally to (someone)" , "field of study" , "Geographical region" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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