Tried hard the way Verdi composed (7)

I believe the answer is:

strived

'tried hard' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'way verdi composed' is the wordplay.
'way' becomes 'st' (abbreviation for street).
'composed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'verdi' anagrammed gives 'rived'.
'st'+'rived'='STRIVED'

'the' acts as a link.

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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