Plead for one trodden underfoot (5)

I believe the answer is:

pedal

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'trodden underfoot' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs sometimes mean the same thing.

'plead for one' is the wordplay.
'plead' anagrams to 'PEDAL'.
Though, I am not clear how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pedal that I've seen before include "related to feet" , "Lever worked by foot" , "Lever operated by foot" , "Of or relating to the feet" , "Bicycle footrest" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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