Crossword Genius

Spooner's greeting character created by Homer from memory (2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

by heart

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'from memory' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'spooner's greeting character created by homer' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'character' could be 'heart' (heart is a kind of character) and 'heart' is found within the answer.
'by' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for by heart that I've seen before include "To know - - is to have in the memory" , "(Learnt) in memory" , "Committed to memory" , "One way to remember" , "Off pat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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