Crossword Genius

Pledged to a place (not America) (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

toasted

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'pledged' is the definition.
('toast' can be a synonym of 'pledge')

'to a place not america' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'to' is present in the answer.
'a' is within the answer.
'place' could be 'sted' (I have seen 'Old place' mean 'sted' so perhaps 'place' could also mean 'sted') and 'sted' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for toasted that I've seen before include "Absent Friends may be" , "Saluted" , "cooked in one way" , "Cooked; drank health of" , "drank to the happy couple!" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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