Crossword Genius

Refined sweetheart taking year off before degree (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

honed

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'refined' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'sweetheart taking year off before degree' is the wordplay.
'sweetheart' becomes 'hon' (both are terms of endearment).
'taking year off' becomes 'e' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'degree' becomes 'd' (abbreviation for the degree in measuring angles).
'hon'+'e'+'d'='HONED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for honed that I've seen before include "Refined" , "Sharpened with a stone" , "Perfected" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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