Crossword Genius

Strain shown by, say, future head (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tenseness

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'strain' is the definition.
(tenseness is a kind of strain)

'shown by say future head' is the wordplay.
'shown by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'say future' becomes 'tense' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'head' becomes 'ness' (ness is a headland).
'tense'+'ness' is 'TENSENESS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tenseness that I've seen before include "Cosmetic lotion" , "Condition of being taut" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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