Crossword Genius

Right for publisher to abridge cleric (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

recto

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'right' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'publisher to abridge cleric' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'to' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'rec' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for recto that I've seen before include "front page" , "No leaves left" , "Page three, for example" , "Side of paper" , "Odd-numbered page" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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