Crossword Genius

Rest ordered, following backing of nurse (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

foster

'nurse' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'rest ordered following backing of' is the wordplay.
'ordered' is an anagram indicator.
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'backing' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'of' written backwards gives 'fo'.
'rest' anagrammed gives 'ster'.
'ster' after 'fo' is 'FOSTER'.

(Other definitions for foster that I've seen before include "Old woodman" , "See 1" , "Bring up in forest" , "Promote growth and development of, say child" , "Nurture and rear" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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