Crossword Genius

Previously minded made claim? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pretended

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'made claim?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'previously minded' is the wordplay.
'previously' becomes 'pre' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'minded' becomes 'tended' (tending is a kind of minding).
'pre'+'tended'='PRETENDED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pretended that I've seen before include "Made believe, feigned," , "Feigned, affected" , "Made believe with intent to deceive" , "Engaged in fantasy; simulated (an emotion)" , "Feigned, faked" .)

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