Crossword Genius

Rod Laver, say, backed to overcome forty love (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

adore

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

'love' is the definition.
(adoring is a kind of loving)

'rod laver say backed to overcome forty' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'rod' is 'dor' which is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ae' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for adore that I've seen before include "Respect deeply" , "Love greatly" , "Like a lot" , "Love, revere intensely" , "Worship, idolise" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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