Crossword Genius

Yearns to have old man meet Eliot (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

covets

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'yearns' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with human feelings as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'old man meet eliot' is the wordplay.
'old man' becomes 'cove' (cove is an old-fashioned term for a man).
'meet' says to put letters next to each other.
'eliot' becomes 'ts' (poet TS Eliot).
'cove'+'ts'='COVETS'

'to have' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for covets that I've seen before include "Badly wants" , "Craves for something someone else has" , "Yearns to have something someone else has" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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