Did champion model speedos around university? (8)
I believe the answer is:
espoused
'did champion' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'model speedos around university?' is the wordplay.
'model' is an anagram indicator (letters must be modelled into a new form ).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'university?' becomes 'u' (abbreviation as in UMass).
'speedos' with letters rearranged gives 'esposed'.
'esposed' going around 'u' is 'ESPOUSED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for espoused that I've seen before include "Advocated" , "Adopted, as of a cause" , "embraced" , "Championed or took up cause" , "Gave one's support to" .)