Strains to understand the footnote (5)
I believe the answer is:
seeps
'strains' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'understand the footnote' is the wordplay.
'understand' becomes 'see' (synonyms).
'the footnote' becomes 'PS'.
'see'+'ps'='SEEPS'
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for seeps that I've seen before include "Oozes" , "Leaks slowly" .)