Crossword Genius

State on the border with New Hampshire and New York (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

canada

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'new york' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'state on the border with new hampshire' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'ca' (abbreviation for California).
'on' means one lot of letters goes inside another (as in clothing 'on' a person).
'the border' suggests removing the centre (I've seen 'borders' mean this).
'with' becomes 'and'.
'new hampshire' becomes 'na' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' with its middle removed is 'ad'.
'ad' put into 'na' is 'nada'.
'ca'+'nada'='CANADA'

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for canada that I've seen before include "Montreal's country" , "Commonwealth country" , "Large country" , "N.American nation" , "Its flag includes the maple leaf" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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