Crossword Genius

Swore to delete text about Frenchman on island (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

promised

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

'delete text about frenchman on island' is the wordplay.
'delete text' becomes 'prosed' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'frenchman' becomes 'm' (abbreviation for Monsieur - like 'Mr').
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'island' becomes 'i' (geographical abbreviation).
'm'+'i'='mi'
'prosed' placed around 'mi' is 'PROMISED'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for promised that I've seen before include "swore" , "Undertook (to do something)" , "undertaken" , "Made a commitment to do" , "Betrothed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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