Crossword Genius

Tread he replaced and made safe (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

earthed

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'made safe' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't see how one could define the other.

'tread he replaced' is the wordplay.
'replaced' indicates an anagram.
'tread'+'he'='treadhe'
'treadhe' is an anagram of 'EARTHED'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for earthed that I've seen before include "grounded" , "protected from shock" , "attached to the ground" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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