Quietly overawed by being caressed, albeit clumsily (5)

I believe the answer is:

pawed

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'caressed albeit clumsily' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'quietly overawed by' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'overawed' becomes 'awed' (similar in meaning).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'p'+'awed'='PAWED'

'being' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pawed that I've seen before include "Roughly handled" , "Manhandled" .)

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

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