Crossword Genius

Small company with unusually short Roman soldiers (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cohorts

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'roman soldiers' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'small company with unusually short' is the wordplay.
'small company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation; 'small' suggests an abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'unusually' indicates an anagram.
'short' is an anagram of 'horts'.
'co'+'horts'='COHORTS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cohorts that I've seen before include "Henchmen" , "Partners" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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